SPECTRAL PROPERTIES OF Sm~(3+)-DOPED BISMUTH TELLURITE GLASS

Sm~ 3+ -doped bismuth tellurite glasses with high refractive indexes were synthesized. The refractive index n_ d of Sm~ 3+ -doped bismuth tellurite glasses was measured by a new method using Brewster angle, and the n_d is 2.344 at 589 nm. The absorption and fluorescence spectra of the glass were measured and analyzed. The absorption spectra were fitted with the JuddOfelt theory. The intensity parameter of the glass Ω_t(t=2, 4, 6 ) is 4.73×10~ -20 , 2.78×10~ -20 and 1.77×10~ -20 cm~ 2 , respectively. Then the relative intensity of spectral lines of every energy level transition, radiative transition probabilities, radiative lifetimes and fluorescence branching ratio were calculated. In the Sm~ 3+ -doped bismuth tellurite glasses, Sm~ 3+ emits intense reddish-orange lights under the excitation of long-wave ultraviolet(UV) and blue lights. Absorption and excitation spectra indicate that commercial UV and blue laser diodes, blue and bluishgreen light-emitting diodes and Ar~ + lasers are powerful excitation sources for Sm~ 3+ visible fluorescence in the glass with a high refractive index.