Optical absorption and multiphonon relaxation have been investigated forNd3+-dopedZnCl2-based glass. The intensity parameters for radiative transitions ofNd3+were determined to be&OHgr;2=4.97×10−20 cm2,&OHgr;4=7.39×10−20 cm2and&OHgr;6=5.12×10−20 cm2.All of the&OHgr;tparameters, especially&OHgr;4,ofNd3+in theZnCl2-based glass were large compared with those reported for oxide and fluoride glasses. Multiphonon relaxation rates for three emission levels ofNd3+were determined from lifetime measurements. The multiphonon relaxation rates in theZnCl2-based glass were extremely low, because of the low-phonon-energy of the matrix. Values were found to obey the energy-gap law in the same manner as the values inEr3+-dopedZnCl2-based glasses. ©1998 American Institute of Physics.