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

Abstract

Abstract Sm 3+ -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 ( A rad ) are derived to be 29.1, 149.2, 150.1 and 39.0 s −1 for conventional visible emissions assigned to 4 G 5/2 → 6 H J ( J = 5/2, 7/2, 9/2 and 11/2) transitions, and A rad are obtained to be 24.8, 4.6 and 2.7 s −1 for the optical transitions 4 G 5/2 → 6 F J ( J = 5/2, 7/2 and 9/2) corresponding to the NIR emissions, respectively. The maximum stimulated emission cross-sections ( σ em ) are obtained to be 7.45 × 10 −22 and 0.48 × 10 −22 cm 2 for visible ( 4 G 5/2 → 6 H 9/2 ) and NIR ( 4 G 5/2 → 6 F 9/2 ) emissions, respectively. Internal quantum efficiency for the 4 G 5/2 level and external quantum yield for visible emissions of Sm 3+ 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 Sm 3+ with obvious Stark splitting indicate Sm 3+ ions have been introduced into the YAG micro-crystal formed in the glass ceramics. Investigations on multi-channel radiative transition emissions of Sm 3+ in LYAS glasses provide a new clue to develop tunable lasers, compact light sources and optoelectronic devices.