Spectroscopic properties and luminescence behaviour of europium doped lithium borate glasses

Li2O-MO-B2O3 (MO=ZnO, CaO and CdO) glasses doped with europium are prepared by using the melt quenching technique to study their absorption and luminescence properties to understand their lasing potentialities. The XRD pattern of the glasses confirmed the amorphous nature and the IR spectra reveal the presence of BO3 and BO4 units in the glass network. Judd-Ofelt intensity parameters Ωλ (λ=2, 4, 6) are evaluated from the intensities of various absorption bands of optical absorption spectra. The J-O parameters have been used to calculate transition probabilities (A), lifetime (τR), branching ratios (βR) and stimulated emission cross-section (σP) for the 5D0→7FJ (J=1-4) transitions of the Eu3+ ions. The decay from the 5D0 level of Eu3+ ions in these glasses has been measured and analysed. Branching ratios and stimulated emission cross-sections measured for all these glasses show that the 5D0→7F1 transition under investigation has the potential for laser applications. The high stimulated emission cross-section and branching ratios from the present glasses suggests their potential for infra red lasers. The study of the thermoluminescence is also carried out and the data suggests that the CdBEu glass is suitable for thermoluminescence emission output among the three Eu3+ doped glasses.