We describe the spectroscopic properties of the trivalent lanthanide ions Ce 3 , Pr 3 , Nd 3 , Sm 3 , Eu 3 , Gd 3 , Tb 3 , Dy 3 , Ho 3 , Er 3 , Tm 3 and Yb 3 in the¯uorophosphate glasses 75NaPO 3 ±24CaF 2 ±1LnF 3 and 75NaPO 3 ±20CaF 2 ± 5LnF 3 (where Ln lanthanide ion). Absorption and luminescence spectra are discussed. The dipole strengths of the transitions in the absorption spectrum are parametrized in terms of three X k (k 2, 4 and 6) Judd±Ofelt intensity parameters. These phenomenological parameters are used to predict the luminescence properties of the lanthanide ions in the¯uorophosphate glasses. Attention is paid to the trend of the intensity parameters over the lanthanide series. á 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.