Photoluminescence and energy transfer properties of Sm3+ doped CFB glasses

The present paper describes the optical absorption, photoluminescence and lifetime measurements of trivalent samarium doped calcium fluoroborate (CFB) glasses. From the observed energy levels, the free-ion energy level parameters for the 4f(5) electronic configuration of Sm3+ ion have been evaluated using H-FI model. The experimental oscillator strengths of absorption bands have been analyzed to determine the Judd-Ofelt (J-O) parameters. From the evaluated J-O parameters and luminescence data, the radiative parameters such as A(R), tau(R) and sigma(e) values were obtained from the excited (4)G(5/2) level to different lower energy levels. The decay curves of (4)G(5/2) -> H-6(7/2) transition were analyzed by the Inokuti-Hirayama model assuming dipole-dipole interaction between the dopant ions. The decrease of fluorescence intensities as well as measured lifetimes at higher concentrations has been explained based on energy transfer process through cross-relaxation between Sm3+ ions. (C) 2011 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.