Spectral analysis of Sm3+ and Dy3+:B2O3-ZnO-PbO glasses

This paper reports on the spectral results of Sm3+ or Dy3+ (1.0 mot%) ions-doped B2O3-ZnO-PbO (BZP) glasses. Measurements of X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) profiles of these rare-earth ion-doped glasses have been carried out. From the DSC thermograms, glass transition (T-g), crystallization (T-c) and melting (T-m) temperatures have been evaluated. Direct and indirect optical band gaps have been calculated based on the glasses UV absorption spectra. These glasses have shown strong absorption bands in the near-infrared (NIR) region and their oscillator strengths have been computed. Emission bands of (4)G(5/2) -> H-6(5/2) (564 nm), (4)G(5/2) -> H-6(7/2) (602 nm), (4)G(5/2) -> H-6(9/2) (647 nm) and (4)G(5/2) H-6(11/2) (710 nm) for the SM3+: glass, with excitation at H-6(5/2) I-4(9/2) (484 nm) have been recorded. Of them, G5/2, H7/2 (602 nin) has shown a bright emission. With regard to the Dy : glass, a bright fluorescent yellow emission at 576 nm (F-4(9/2) -> H-6(13/2)) has been observed, apart from F-4(9/2) -> H-6(15/2) (484 nm) and F-4(9/2) -> H-6(11/2) (666 nm) emission transitions with excitation at 450 nm (H-6(15/2) -> I-4(15/2)) excitation wavelength. Stimulated emission cross-sections of all the emission bands of Sm3+ and Dy3+ : BZP glasses have been computed based on their measured Delta lambda (FWHM) and measured lifetimes (tau m). (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.