Lasing transition at 1.06 μm emission in Nd3+‐doped borate‐based tellurium calcium zinc niobium oxide glasses for high‐power solid‐state lasers

The spectroscopic properties of Tellurium Calcium Zinc Niobium oxide Borate (TCZNB) glasses of composition (in mol%) 10TeO2 + 15CaO + 5ZnO + 10 Nb2O5 + (60 – x)B2O3 + Nd2O3 (x = 0.1, 0.5, 1.0 or 1.5 mol%) have been investigated experimentally. The three phenomenological intensity parameters Ω2, Ω4, Ω6 have been calculated using the Judd–Ofelt theory and in turn radiative properties such as radiative transition probabilities, emission cross-sections, branching ratios and radiative lifetimes have been estimated. The trend found in the JO intensity parameter is Ω2 > Ω6 > Ω4 If Ω6 > Ω4, the glass system is favourable for the laser emission 4F3/2 → 4I11/2 in the infrared (IR) wavelength. The experimental values of branching ratio of 4F3/2 → 4I11/2 transition indicate favourable lasing action with low threshold power. The evaluated total radiative transition probabilities (AT), stimulated emission cross-section (σe) and gain bandwidth parameters (σe × Δλp) were compared with earlier reports. An energy level analysis has been carried out considering the experimental energy positions of the absorption and emission bands.