Spectroscopic Studies of the Energy Levels of the Nd3+ Ion in Single Crystals of SrO.6Al2O3

Abstract

A detailed study of the polarised absorption and fluorescence spectra and the selective excitation spectra of the Nd3+ ion in the SrO.6Al20 3 host lattice was carried out over the temperature range 4·2 to 500 K. The empirical energy level schemes were determined for two dominant sites of Nd3+ in SrO.6Al20 3 up to 20000 cm -1. The intensity, linewidth and thermal shifts of the transition lines with 4f3 configuration were investigated. The vibrational transitions of Nd3 + : srO.6Al20 3 were also investigated using Raman spectroscopy. The results of the study provide information on the suitability of Nd3+ : srO.6Al20 3 as a solid state laser material.