Middle-infrared luminescence of Nd ions in silver halide crystals

The optical absorption and the luminescence emission in the middle infrared (mid-IR) were investigated in AgClxBr1−x crystals doped with Nd3+ ions. Strong luminescence emission, in the spectral range 4.5–5.8 μm, in mid-IR was observed for the first time in Nd3+-doped silver halide crystals. Various optical parameters were calculated for the Nd3+-doped crystals, using the Judd–Ofelt approximation. The measured results and the calculated parameters indicate that these doped crystals could be used for the development of mid-IR solid-state lasers or mid-IR fiber lasers.