Optical, Photo, and X-Ray Luminescence Properties of Samarium Ions Doped with Borophosphate Glasses

The optical, photo, and X-ray luminescence properties of Sm³⁺ ion-doped Li₂O–Al₂O₃–Gd₂O₃–B₂O₃–P₂O₅ glasses are evaluated. The glasses are fabricated by the melt quenching technique. The absorption spectra exhibit the hypersensitive transitions ⁶H_5/2→⁶P_3/2 and ⁶H_5/2→⁶F_7/2 at the visible and near-infrared range respectively. The glasses display four major transitions characteristic of Sm³⁺ ion for photoluminescence and X-ray luminescence, with the most intense one corresponding to the ⁴G_5/2→⁶H_7/2 transition. The best emitting samarium concentration obtained by X-ray excitation is compared to BGO crystals. The integral scintillation efficiency of glass is determined by total area under all of peak spectrum. The results indicate the promising application of these glasses in scintillators and for X-ray sensing devices.