Ultra violet-visible (UV-Vis) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra of Nd doped phosphate glasses
have been studied before and after gamma irradiation in order to understand the changes in the optical
properties of glasses as well as to find the characteristics frequencies of the vibrational modes of chemical
bonds, which decide the structural and spectral changes. UV, Vis, IR absorption and photoluminescence
spectra of these glasses show changes depending on the composition of glass matrix. These changes are
correlated on the basis of oxygen (O) and neodymium (Nd) concentration ratio obtained from energy
dispersive X-ray spectroscopic (EDX) measurement. Gamma irradiation shows decrease in transmission
below 700 nm for all the Nd3+ absorption lines from all the samples. Differential absorption spectra (UV-vis)
of the samples before and after gamma irradiation show generation of some new bands below 700 nm along
with dips (decrease) in the spectrum at the location of main Nd3+ absorption lines. This is attributed to the
generation of different types of defects in the glass matrix along with possibility of change in the valence stat
of Nd3+ to Nd2+. IR absorption spectra of these glasses are found dominated mainly by the characteristics
phosphate groups and water (OH) present in the glass network. The effects of gamma irradiation on IR
absorption are observed in the form of bond breaking and possible re-arrangement of bonding. EDX and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic (XPS) measurements indicate decrease in the relative concentration of oxygen in the glass samples after γ-irradiation.