Sol‐Gel Processing of Neodymia–Silica Glass

Abstract

Neodymia‐doped glasses are currently commercially available for use in laser systems. Typically, these glasses are low‐softening‐temperature borates, phosphates, silicates, and fluorides. With its high softening temperature, high thermal shock resistance, and low nonlinear index of refraction, silica may be an ideal candidate for a neodymia bost glass for high‐power laser applications. Conventional glass processing methods, however, have thus far succeeded in incorporating only low levels of neodymia in silica. In this paper, the fabrication of neodymia–silica glasses with high neodymia content by the sol‐gel route is described. A possible structure for neodymia in silica is discussed.