Electron spin resonance spectra of Gd3+ ions in K2SO4-ZnSO4 glasses

Abstract

Electron spin resonance (ESR) spectra of Gd3+ ions doped in K2SO4-ZnSO4 glasses have been studied on an X-band ESR spectrometer at different temperatures (−120 to 150‡ C). The ESR spectrum at room temperature exhibits three prominent features with effectiveg-values of ∼5.6, 2.83 and 2.02. The spectra are similar to the “U” spectra familiar in many oxide and fluoride glasses, indicating very low and disordered site symmetries with a broad distribution of crystal fields. Remarkable changes have been observed in the spectrum with changes in the temperature, concentration and glass composition. The broadening of theg ∼2.02 line with increasing Gd3+ ion content indicates that the dipole-dipole interaction between the resonant centres increases with increase in Gd3+ ion content. A weak band at 36350cm−1 is observed in the optical absorption spectrum of 0.5mol% Gd3+ in K2SO4-ZnSO4 glass which has been assigned to the transition8S7/2→6P7/2.