Sm3+-Doped Molybdenum Gadolinium Borate Glasses for Orange Emission Laser Active Medium

Abstract

Room temperature visible and near infrared optical absorption and emission spectra of Sm3+-doped molybdenum gadolinium borate (MGB) glasses with molar composition 25MoO3-20Gd2O3–(55 − x)B2O3−xSm2O3 (x = 0.05, 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 mol.%) have been analyzed. The experimental oscillator strengths of absorption bands have been used to determine the Judd–Ofelt (J–O) parameters. Fluorescence spectra were recorded by exciting the samples at 402 nm. Using the J–O parameters and luminescence data, the radiative transition probabilities (AR), branching ratios (BR), and stimulated emission cross-sections oe) are obtained. The decay curves of the 4G5/2 - 6H7/2 transition exhibit a non-exponential curve fit for all concen-trations. The concentration quenching has been attributed to the energy transfer through the cross-relaxation between Sm3+ ions. 4G5/2 level and its relative quantum efficiencies are measured. Intense reddish-orange emission corresponding to the 4G5/2−6H7/2 transition has been observed in these glasses at the 487-nm excitation, From the values of the radiative parameters, it is concluded that the 1.0-mol% Sm3+-doped MGB glass may be used as a laser active medium with the emission wavelength at 599 nm. The analysis of the non-exponential behavior of decay curves through the Inokuti–Hirayama model indicates that the energy transfer between Sm3+ ions is of dipole–dipole type. The quantum efficiency for the 4G5/2 level of MGBSm10 glass is found to be 67%. The co-related color temperature obtained from CIE (Commission International de L’Eclairage) for these glass samples is ∼1620 K for the indicated orange emission at the 402-nm excitation.