Analysis of up-converted UV fluorescence dynamics in Nd3+ doped ZBLAN glasses

In this work we investigate dynamics of the UV and violet fluorescence from the high lying D-4(3/2) and P-2(3/2) multiplets in Nd3+ doped fluorozirconate (ZBLAN) glass. Emission properties of several samples with different neodymium ion concentrations (0.3-5 mol.%) were carefully examined under direct and multiphoton pulsed excitation and the dominant up-conversion mechanisms were proposed. The fluorescence lifetimes of the excited D-4(3/2) and P-2(3/2) levels were, according to our knowledge, for the first time determined. Additionally, the D-4(3/2) and P-2(3/2) luminescence quenching was analyzed by investigating the concentration dependencies of decay profiles. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.