Temperature-dependent stimulated-emission cross section and concentration quenching in Nd^3+-doped phosphate glasses

Measurements are reported of the spectroscopic properties of phosphate glasses doped with 3-, 5-, and 10-wt. % Nd3+ in the temperature range 70–300 K. The stimulated-emission cross sections of these glasses were determined by use of the Füchtbauer–Ladenburg formula at each temperature. The absorption spectra at room temperature were used to calculate the 4F3/2→4I11/2 stimulated-emission cross section and the 4F3/2 radiative lifetime according to Judd–Ofelt theory. Good agreement was obtained between measured and calculated stimulated-emission cross sections at room temperature. As the temperature decreased, the emission cross section increased while the emission lifetime remained constant for all the samples. The temperature dependences of the stimulated-emission cross sections for the differently doped glasses are in good agreement with earlier predictions.