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 Ω_λ'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.