We report here on the optical characterisation of Sm3+ (5 wt%): SiO2 + Al2O
3 + Li2O + Na2O + MgO glass from the measurements of optical absorption spe
ctra (at 300 K), total luminescence spectra (10-300 K) and fluorescence lif
etimes (10-300 K) of the prominent emission transitions of the Sm3+ ions. B
esides its spectral properties, physical and nonlinearity characterising pr
operty parameters have also been computed to understand the optical dispers
ive power of this glass. By the application of Judd-Ofelt parameters (Omega
(lambda)) of the measured absorption spectrum, the radiative transition pro
bability factors (A) and stimulated emission cross-section (sigma(p)(E)) of
the observed fluorescent levels have been analysed. Both emission intensit
y and measured lifetimes of the prominent luminescent transition ((4)G(5/2)
--> H-6(7/2)) concerning Sm3+-glass has been showing a descending trend wi
th the rise in temperature with N-2-laser (337.1 nm) as the source of excit
ation. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.