Photoluminescence (PL) and photoacoustic spectroscopic (PAS) studies were performed on uranium oxide and thorium oxide immobilized in sodium barium borosilicate glasses. The glass composition was similar to that to the proposed Advanced Heavy Water Reactor nuclear waste glass. These investigations were aimed at understanding the oxidation state and coordination behaviour of the uranium ion in the glass matrix and the effect of Th codoping on them. The PL spectrum of both glasses showed a green emission band at 538nm without any vibronic structure along with excitation peaks at 275, 323, 348, and 412nm. These data increased the presence f uranium as uranate in the glass matrix. On codoping with Th, PL emission output as well as the lifetime was reduced.
