Visualisation of the reliability of Judd–Ofelt intensity parameters by graphical simulation of the absorption spectrum

It is shown that graphical simulation of the optical absorption spectrum of trivalent lanthanide ions doped into glasses is a good method for checking the reliability of the Judd–Ofelt intensity parameters which are used to describe the spectral intensities of 4f–4f transitions. The method is illustrated for the absorption spectrum of trivalent holmium in the fluorozirconate glass ZBLAN:Ho3+. The Judd–Ofelt parameters of this system are: Ω2=(2.25±0.11)×10−20 cm2, Ω4=(2.19±0.15)×10−20 cm2, Ω6=(2.07±0.11)×10−20 cm2.