Nature of the interaction forces associated with the concentration fluorescence quenching of Nd3+ in silicate glasses

Abstract

The nature of the concentration fluorescence quenching of Nd³⁺ in silicate glasses, which is associated with the reaction Nd³⁺ (⁴F_3/2) + Nd³⁺ (⁴I_9/2) → 2Nd³⁺ (⁴I_15/2), has been reinvestigated by monitoring the fluorescence intensity of Nd³⁺ at 1060 nm as a function of time. The experimental decay curves were compared with theoretical ones, based upon dipole‐dipole, dipole‐quadrupole, and quadrupole‐quadrupole interactions. The latter two interaction models appear to predominate in deexciting Nd³⁺. Their relative contributions depend upon the [Nd³⁺]. At higher [Nd³⁺], rare‐earth ions having another Nd³⁺ ion as a nearest neighbor, namely ion ``pairs,'' may give rise to possible contribution of exchange interactions through a rapid electronic excitation energy migration from an excited Nd³⁺ ion to such pairs.