Influence of the concentration quenching and of water on the energy characteristics of neodymium-activated glasses

A description is given of a method for measuring the population inversion density, excitation energy, and stimulated emission cross section of neodymium in glasses. It is shown that the concentration quenching of neodymium in glasses is accompanied by the deactivation of some of the ions. The results are given of a study of the influence of water contained in glass on the luminescence quenching and on the stimulated emission characteristics of neodymium. The new method is applied to a determination of the population inversion density, excitation energy, and stimulated emission cross sections of some industrial neodymium-activated laser glasses.