Optical absorption, excitation, emission spectra and lifetimes are presente
d for Sm3+ ions in lithium berate and lithium fluoroborate glasses. Composi
tional dependence of Judd-Ofelt parameters has been evaluated and these par
ameters are used to predict radiative lifetimes (tau(R)) and branching rati
os (beta(R)) for some excited (4)G(4)(7/2), (4)G(4)(5/2), F-6(11/2), F-6(9/
2), F-6(1/2), H-6(13/2), H-6(11/2) and H-6(9/2) levels. The radiative prope
rties have also been predicted for these excited levels of Sm3+ :borate, ox
ide, phosphate. fluoride and fluorophosphate glasses and Sm3+:Y3Al5O12 crys
tal. The values of electric (A(ed)) and magnetic (A(md)) dipole transition
probabilities, tau(R) and beta(R) are presented for the above excited level
s. The Judd-Ofelt intensity parameters have been used to predict oscillator
strengths which are found to be useful to assign the closely spaced multip
lets. The predicted values of tau(R) and beta(R) are compared with the expe
rimental values for (4)G(4)(5/2) level to its lower levels. The stimulated
emission cross-sections, sigma(lambda(p)), were also evaluated for (4)G(4)(
5/2)-->H-6(3) transitions. The dependence of the optical properties due to
compositional changes of the glasses rue discussed and compared with simila
r results. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.