SOL-GEL PROCESSING OF SM2-DOPED GLASS AND ITS SPECTRAL HOLE-BURNING AT ROOM-TEMPERATURE()

The sol-gel process was applied to the preparation of Sm2+ ion-doped s ilicate glasses, which show persistent spectral hole burning at room t emperature. The gels synthesized by the hydrolysis of metal alkoxides and SmCl3 . 6H(2)O were heated in air at 500 degrees C, were then reac ted with H-2 gas to form the Sm2+ ion. The Al2O3-SiO(2)2 glasses are a ppropriate to reduce the Sm3+ ion with Hz gas and show intense photolu minescence of Sm2+ ion. Persistent spectra hole burning was observed i n the excitation spectrum for the F-7(0)-->D-5(0) transition of the Sm 2+ ion by the irradiation of DCM dye laser. The hole width and depth w ere similar to 16 cm(-1) and similar to 10% of the total intensity, re spectively, at 20 degrees C.