Optical properties of praseodymium doped silver-borate glasses

Praseodymium doped silver–borate glasses having composition xPr6O11–(25 – x)Ag2O–75B2O3 (x = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) were prepared by conventional melt quenching method. The density, molar volume, and optical energy band gap of these glasses were measured. Optical absorption spectra of these glasses were recorded in the range 300–1000 nm at room temperature. The refractive index, molar refraction, and polarizability of oxide ion were calculated by using Lorentz–Lorentz relations. The oxide ion polarizabilities deduced from two different quantities, viz. refractive index and optical energy band gap, agree well compared with other glasses. The variation of the preceding optical parameters with respect to praseodymium concentration is explained.