FLUORESCENCE SPECTROSCOPY OF SILICATE-GLASSES CODOPED WITH SM2+ AND AL3+ IONS

The fluorescence properties of Sm3+ and Sm2+ ions incorporated in sili cate glasses were measured using steady-state and laser-induced line n arrowing techniques and the effect of Al3+ ions to the local structure around the Sm2+ ion was investigated. Sm3+ ion-containing glasses pre pared by a sol-ge! method were reacted with H-2 gas to form the Sm2+ i ons. The energies of the three Stark levels of the D-5(0) --> F-7(1) t ransition were analyzed using C-2v symmetry. The addition of Al3+ ions facilitates dispersion of the Sm2+ ions and increases the coordinatio n number of the Sm2+ ion due to the long distance between the Sm2+ and O2- ions, resulting in the increased fluorescence intensity. The fluo rescence intensity of the Sm2+ and Sm3+ ions considerably increases in glasses containing more than 5 mol % Al2O3. (C) 1997 American Institu te of Physics.