New measurements of the emission spectra of Sm2+ in KMgF3 and NaMgF3 crystals

The fluorescence of divalent samarium in KMgF3 and NaMgF3 crystals is investigated. The emission is observed to originate from transitions between the 5DJ, and 7FJ multiplets of the 4ƒ6 configuration. More precisely, the lowest 5DJ level, 5D0, appears to be the most efficient emitting level in the temperature range 4–300K. Contrary to what has been reported elsewhere, the Sm2+ fluorescence in both crystals does not exhibit any broad band emission even at room temperature. The great number of lines in the 5D0→7FJ patterns gives evidence of the multiple-center origin of the fluorescence