Optical properties of Sm3+ doped lead fluoroborate glasses Original Research Article

We present a study of emission, absorption and vibrational properties of Sm3+ doped lead fluoroborate glasses (PbO–PbF2–B2O3–Sm2O3) as a function of the Sm3+ content. Changes in the position and the intensity parameters of the transitions are closely related to structural changes in the glass network. A Judd–Ofelt scheme was used to estimate the intensity parameters Ωλ and radiative properties for Sm3+ in the glass. The behaviour of Ω2 and Ω6 parameters suggested a decrease in the asymmetry degree of the local ligand field at Sm3+ sites and an increase in the covalency of Sm–O bond, respectively. This hypothesis was verified by analysing the structural role of Sm2O3 through Raman and infrared spectroscopy measurements.