Influence of Alkali Metal Ions on the Structural and Spectroscopic Properties of Sm 3+ -Doped Silicate Glasses.

In the present work, the influence of alkali ions (Li, Na, K) on the structural and spectroscopic properties of silica glasses doped with Sm³⁺ was investigated. Infrared and Raman spectroscopy techniques were used to investigate the structural properties of the alkali silicate glasses. The optical absorption showed bands characteristic of Sm³⁺ ions in alkali silicate glasses, and this was investigated. The Judd–Ofelt theory was applied to evaluate the phenomenological intensity parameters (Ω₂, Ω₄, and Ω₆) of the optical absorption measurements. The multi-channel visible and near infrared emission transitions originating from the ⁴G_5/2-emitting state of the Sm³⁺ in alkali silicate glasses with a maximum phonon energy of ~1050 cm⁻¹ were investigated. From the evaluated Judd–Ofelt parameters, radiative parameters such as spontaneous emission probabilities, radiative lifetimes, branching ratios, and stimulated emission cross-sections were calculated. The recorded luminescence spectra regions revealed intense green, orange, red, and near-infrared emission bands, providing new traces for developing tunable laser and optoelectronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]