a b s t r a c tA study of the optical properties of Nd 3+ ion in TeO 2 -PbF 2 -AlF 3 glasses has been carried out for different Nd 3+ concentrations. Based on the Judd-Ofelt theory, intensity parameters and radiative properties were determined from the absorption spectra. Focusing on the suitability of this host for laser applications, the spectroscopic quality factor v was obtained with a value of 1.07, a value of the order of other compositions proposed as laser hosts. For the most intense emission corresponding with the 4 F 3/2 ? 4 I 11/2 transition (1.06 lm), the absorption and emission and have been calculated with values of 1.20 Â 10 À20 cm 2 , 2.08 Â 10 À20 cm 2 . A positive value for the gain cross-sections has been found for a population inversion factor c of 0.4 in the spectral range from 1060 to 1110 nm. All these results suggest the potentially use of this system as a laser host.