Abstract: The pulsed cathodoluminescence of Nd3+ ions in Nd:YAG single crystals and ceramics is studied. These materials luminesce after action of an electron beam pulse with a duration of 2 ns. Optical transitions occur from the 2F25/2 level and manifest themselves in the ultraviolet and visible spectral regions, while transitions from the 4F3/2 level are observed in the near IR region. The luminescence kinetics is characterized by rise and decay and is described by a difference between two exponential functions. It is found that the characteristic luminescence decay times are the lifetimes of the radiative 2F25/2 and 4F3/2 levels, while the rise time is determined by the mechanism of their population. The population of the upper Stark component of the 2F25/2 level occurs as a result of linear recombination of ionized neodymium ions with free electrons, while the 4F3/2 level is populated due to nonradiative transitions from the upper levels.