Energy Levels and Spectral Broadening of Neodymium Ions in Laser Glass

Abstract

Energy levels, linewidths, and oscillator strengths for trivalent neodymium ions in a commercial laser glass were determined from the fluorescence and absorption spectra. The spectra were composed of broad groups of overlapping lines and were deciphered from spectral variations produced by changes in glass temperature from 4° to 300°K. No thermal variation of the peak wavelengths and linewidths of the component lines was observed in this temperature range. The free ion levels of neodymium were completely split into J+½ Kramers doublets by the perturbation of the glass environment on the ion. The splitting patterns correlated closely with those determined from Nd₂O₃ crystals, indicating that the rare‐earth ion locates in an environment in glass much like the sesquioxide crystal environment.