Spectroscopic investigation of 1.5 atm% Nd3+ doped Y2O3 transparent ceramic was performed for different emission wavelengths. Judd-Oflet parameters, computed from the absorption bands of Nd3+ ion, are Omega(2) = 8.84 x 10(-20) cm(2), Omega(4)=9.82 x 10(-20) cm(2) and Omega(6) = 4.44 x 10(-20) cm(2). These parameters were used to determine absorption line strength, radiative transition probabilities, fluorescence branch ratio and radiative lifetime for different transitions of Nd3+. The branching ratios for F-4(3/2) -> I-4(9/2) and F-4(3/2) -> I-4(11/2) transition are 0.548 and 0.389, respectively. The calculated radiative lifetime (140 mu s) is in good agreement with the measured lifetime (153 mu s). The room temperature emission cross-section of individual Stark bands of F-4(3/2) -> I-4(9/2) and F-4(3/2) -> I-4(11/2) transitions was determined. The total emission cross section for F-4(3/2) -> I-4(9/2) and F-4(3/2) -> I-4(11/2) transition was found to be 25.49 x 10(-20) and 37.04 x 10(-20) cm(2), which is significantly higher than 1.0 atm% Nd3+ doped Y2O3 ceramic. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.