Optical evaluation of multichannel radiative transitions originating from 4G5/2 level of Sm3+ in heavy-metal-gallate glasses

Conventional visible and novel infrared (IR) emissions of Sm3+ in heavy-metal-gallate glasses (Li2O-K2O-BaO-PbO-Bi2O3-Ga2O3, LKBPBG for short) with low phonon energy have been observed. Judd-Ofelt parameters Omega(2) (3.00 x 10(-20) cm(2)), Omega(4) (5.19 x 10(-20) cm(2)), and Omega(6) (1.69 x 10(-20) cm(2)) indicate a higher asymmetry and stronger covalent environment in the optical glasses. For the visible fluorescence bands peaked at 564, 601, 648, and 710 nm, the maximum stimulated emission cross-sections (sigma(e)) were derived to be 1.35 x 10(-22), 9.21 x 10(-22), 9.58 x 10(-22), and 3.91 x 10(-22) cm(2), respectively, the values are larger than those in phosphate, oxyfluoroborate, tellurite, and calibo glasses obviously. The observed 1185 nm IR emission lies in the low-loss window of telecommunication system, and the maximum value of sigma(e) for this band was obtained to be 6.09 x 10(-23) cm(2). The characterization of multichannel radiative transitions of Sm3+ in LKBPBG glasses is beneficial in exposing its potential applications in visible and IR optoelectronic devices. (C) 2010 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3448238]