Optical and luminescent properties of Sm³+ doped tellurite glasses

Glasses with chemical composition of (62-x) TeO(2)+25 ZnO+8 K(2)O+5 CaO+x Sm(2)O(3) (TZKCSmx; x=0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 mol%) were prepared by melt quenching technique. The absorption spectrum was recorded in the UV-visible and NIR regions. The oscillator strengths of absorption bands were obtained by measuring the area under the bands. Judd-Ofelt analysis has been carried out to estimate the host dependent J-O intensity Ω(λ) (λ=2, 4, 6) parameters by least squares fitting approach. Photoluminescence spectra recorded in the visible region revealed intense green, orange and red emission bands in all the glasses, corresponding to the (4)G(5/2)→(6)H(5/2), (4)G(5/2)→(6)H(7/2) and (4)G(5/2)→(6)H(9/2) transitions respectively. From the emission spectra and J-O intensity parameters, various radiative parameters were calculated from the excited (4)G(5/2) to the lower lying (6)H(J) (J=5/2, 7/2, 9/2, 11/2) multiplet. Quenching of luminescence with the increase of Sm(3+) ions concentration has been observed. Decay times of excited (4)G(5/2) state decrease with the increase of the Sm(3+) ions concentration. The energy transfer mechanism that leads to the quenching of (4)G(5/2) state lifetime has been discussed. Inokuti-Hirayama (I-H) model was used to evaluate various energy transfer parameters, which are the qualitative indicators for the interaction among Sm(3+) ions.