Effect of gamma irradiation on some spectroscopic properties of phosphate glass containing samarium ions

Changes of FTIR, UV-Visible spectra, photoluminescence with varying Sm content in phosphate glass containing sodium, lead and aluminum were studied. Refractive index values have been measured and their values were listed to be between similar to 1.5-1.7. Furthermore the effect of subjecting this glass to gamma rays was also investigated. The results showed that glass containing 1%Sm had the highest NBOs according to FTIR, UV-Visble results. The optical energy band gap and Urbach values supported this assumption. The presence of Sm3+ which can be reduced to Sm2+ in addition to the NBOs produced due to the addition of Sm ions in the glass matrix, causing a reduction of gamma rays effect. This may give a clue to the ability of using this glass as an immobilizer or shielded for gamma rays or as a burial for high energy radioactive materials.