Radiative properties and luminescence spectra of Sm3+ ion in zinc–aluminum–sodium-phosphate (ZANP) glasses

Abstract The fluorescence properties of different concentrations of Sm 3+ doped zinc–aluminum–sodium-phosphate (ZANP) glasses were studied by the XRD, SEM, FTIR, TG–DTA, optical absorption, photoluminescence and decay cure analysis. X-ray diffraction profiles and SEM images confirmed the amorphous nature of the glass samples. Structural information of these glass matrices was provided by FTIR spectrum. Judd–Ofelt (J–O) theory was applied to the experimental oscillator strengths to evaluate three phenomenological J–O intensity parameters, Ω λ ( λ =2, 4 and 6). Using J–O intensity parameters and emission spectra, various radiative parameters such as radiative transition probabilities ( A R ), radiative lifetimes ( τ R ), calculated and measured branching ratios ( β R and β m ), effective bandwidths (Δ λ eff ) and stimulated emission cross-sections ( σ P ) were calculated for observed emission transitions. The intensity of emission transitions with the variation of Sm 3+ ion concentration was studied. The nature of decay curves of 4 G 5/2 level for different Sm 3+ ion concentrations in ZANP glass was analyzed and obtained measured lifetimes ( τ exp ). Quantum efficiency of 4 G 5/2 level was calculated based on experimental and measured radiative lifetimes ( τ exp and τ R ).