Investigations on luminescence performance of Sm3+ ions activated in multi-component fluoro-phosphate glasses.

Different metal oxide based fluoro-phosphate glasses doped with Sm(3+) ions are investigated using XRD, SEM with EDS, FTIR, Raman spectra, optical absorption and photo-luminescence techniques. These glass matrices have been prepared by conventional melt quenching technique. The glassy nature of the present glass matrices are confirmed by XRD profiles and SEM photographs. The composition of the glasses is checked by EDS. Based on FTIR and Raman spectra, the authors have analyzed functional groups that are present in the glass matrices. Judd-Ofelt intensity parameters, Ωλ (λ=2,4,6) have been evaluated from absorption spectra. Radiative parameters such as radiative transition probabilities (AR), radiative lifetimes (τR), integrated absorption cross sections (Σ) and branching ratios (βR) are calculated using Judd-Ofelt intensity parameters. From the photoluminescence spectra, experimental branching ratios (βexp) and stimulated emission cross-sections (σP) for all the observed emission transitions are calculated. To investigate luminescence potentiality of (4)G5/2→(6)H7/2 emission level of Sm(3+) doped different fluorophosphate glasses, experimental radiative lifetimes (τexp) are obtained from decay curve analysis for all glass matrices. Finally, these observed results are discussed and compared with the literature data.