Multi-channel transition emissions of Sm3+ in lithium yttrium aluminum silicate glasses and derived opalescent glass ceramics

• Multi-channel transitions of Sm3+ in aluminosilicate glasses are investigated.
• Judd–Ofelt parameters are derived to be 4.12 × 10−20, 4.26 × 10−20 and 2.11 × 10−20 cm2.
• Cross-section profiles σem for visible and NIR emissions are calculated by FL formula.
• 44.9% internal quantum efficiency and 11.58% external quantum yield are exposed.
• Orientational crystallization was observed after the heat-treatment testing.

Sm3+-doped lithium–yttrium–aluminum-silicate (LYAS) glasses have been fabricated and effective visible and near-infrared (NIR) emissions are exhibited. The predicated spontaneous emission probabilities (Arad) are derived to be 29.1, 149.2, 150.1 and 39.0 s−1 for conventional visible emissions assigned to 4G5/2 → 6HJ (J = 5/2, 7/2, 9/2 and 11/2) transitions, and Arad are obtained to be 24.8, 4.6 and 2.7 s−1 for the optical transitions 4G5/2 → 6FJ (J = 5/2, 7/2 and 9/2) corresponding to the NIR emissions, respectively. The maximum stimulated emission cross-sections (σem) are obtained to be 7.45 × 10−22 and 0.48 × 10−22 cm2 for visible (4G5/2 → 6H9/2) and NIR (4G5/2 → 6F9/2) emissions, respectively. Internal quantum efficiency for the 4G5/2 level and external quantum yield for visible emissions of Sm3+ are determined to be 44.9% and 11.58%, respectively. High temperature heat treatment testing was carried out on the LYAS glasses and orientational crystallization was observed. Visible transition emissions of Sm3+ with obvious Stark splitting indicate Sm3+ ions have been introduced into the YAG micro-crystal formed in the glass ceramics. Investigations on multi-channel radiative transition emissions of Sm3+ in LYAS glasses provide a new clue to develop tunable lasers, compact light sources and optoelectronic devices.

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