Judd-Ofelt intensity parameters of samarium-doped magnesium zinc sulfophosphate glass

Achieving better performing glasses with modified optical properties for short-wavelength solid state lasers is demanding. Inspired by this fact, Samarium (Sm3+)-doped glass of the magnesium zinc sulfophosphate system with composition (60-x)P2O5-20MgO-20ZnSO(4-x)Sm(2)O(3) (x = 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2 mol%) was prepared using the melt-quenching technique. The samples are thoroughly characterized to determine the influence of varying Sm3+ ioncontents on their spectral properties. UV-Vis-NIR spectra revealed the occurrence of several absorption bands corresponding to the transitions from the ground state to various excited states of the Sm3+ ion. Judd-Ofelt (JO) spectral analyses were carried out to determine the local structure and bonding in the vicinity of Sm3+ ions. The experimental oscillator strengths calculated from the absorption spectra are used to evaluate three phenomenological JO intensity parameters Omega(i)(i = 2, 4 and 6). The Sm3+ ions' assisted modification in the overall glass properties is ascribed to the alteration in glass network structures. Quantities such as radiative transition probabilities, radiative lifetime, branching ratios and stimulated emission cross-sections are calculated for the (4)G(5/2) -> H-6(J) = 5/2, 7/2, 9/2 and 11/2) transitions of Sm3+ ions. The PL spectra displayed four prominent emission bands centered at about 562, 599, 644 and 702 nm with intensity quenching beyond 1.5 mol% of Sm3+ ions. Our results are analyzed using various mechanisms and compared to previous reports. Our findings may be beneficial for the advancement of functional glasses. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.