PROPERTIES OF SM3+ IONS IN FLUOROZIRCONATE FIBER

The spectroscopic properties of Sm3+ ions in fluorozirconate fiber are presented. We found that our results were not in full agreement with previous research on Sm3+ doped silica. We observed that the visible e mission bands have a relative strength closer to unity, and we measure d a fluorescence lifetime that is three times longer than previously r eported. The implications of these findings on the role of Sm3+ in zir conium barium fluoride glass and on the operation of Sm3+ doped fiber devices are discussed. (C) 1997 Optical Society of America.