Fluorescence properties and electron paramagnetic resonance studies of γ-irradiated Sm3+-doped oxyfluoroborate glasses

The permanent photoinduced valence manipulation of samarium doped oxyfluoroborate glasses as a function of c-ray irradiation has been investigated using a steady-state fluorescence and electron paramagnetic resonance techniques. An increase in SrF2 content in the glass led to the red shift of the peaks in as prepared glass, while in irradiated glasses this led to the decrease in defect formation as well as increase in photoreduction of Sm3+ to Sm2+ ion. The energy transfer mechanism of induced permanent photoreduction of Sm3+ to Sm2+ ions in oxyfluoroborate glasses has been discussed. The decay analysis shows exponential behavior before irradiation and non-exponential behavior after irradiation. The energy transfer in irradiated glasses increases with the increase in SrF2 content in the glass and also with the irradiation dose. (C) 2012 American Institute of Physics. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4764043]