Spectroscopic properties of trivalent samarium ions in glasses

Optical absorption and luminescence spectra of the Sm3+-doped fluorophosphate glasses 75NaPO3-24CaF2-1SmF3 and 75NaPO3-24BaF2-1SmF3, the phosphate glass 75NaPO3-24.5ZnO-0.5Sm2O3 and the fluoride glass ZBLAN:Sm3+ have been recorded. The dipole strengths of the transitions in the absorption spectrum are parameterized in terms of three phenomenological Judd-Ofelt intensity parameters OMEGA LAMBDA (LAMBDA = 2, 4 and 6). The determination of intensity parameters for Sm3+ has inherent difficulties due to very large number of energy levels lying close to each other. In this case, we can take advantage of the property that both the dipole strengths and the squared reduced matrix elements of overlapping transitions are additive. The relation between the spectral intensities and the glass composition is discussed.status: publishe