Optical transitions of Sm3+ in oxide glasses

Eigenvectors of the 4f5 electronic configuration of Sm3+ were calculated in intermediate coupling, and used to obtain the reduced matrix elements U(λ). Absorption spectra of Sm3+ were recorded in phosphate, borate, germanate and tellurite glasses. The Judd-Ofelt Ωλ's intensity parameters were then deduced from the measured oscillator strengths by least-squares fitting. Radiative transition probabilities and integrated cross-sections of stimulated emissions are obtained. Calculated branching ratios and decay lifetimes are compared with the experimental values.