samariumdoped

Samarium-doped materials are solids in which samarium ions, typically Sm3+, are introduced as dopants into a crystalline or glassy host lattice to create optically active media. The Sm3+ ion exhibits sharp 4f-4f transitions, producing narrow emission lines. In most hosts the visible emission is orange to red, commonly near 600–650 nm, with absorption bands that can be pumped by visible or near-ultraviolet light. Emission lifetimes are relatively long, ranging from microseconds to milliseconds, and the overall efficiency depends on the host’s phonon energy and the dopant concentration.

Common host materials include fluoride crystals such as CaF2, SrF2 and NaYF4; oxides such as yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) and Lu2O3; and various phosphate, borate, and silicate glasses and glass-ceramics. Doping levels typically range from tens of parts per million to a few percent, with higher concentrations potentially causing concentration quenching. Doping can be combined with other rare-earth ions to tailor energy transfer and emission characteristics for specific applications.

Applications of samarium-doped materials include solid-state lasers and laser gain media, optical amplifiers, and phosphors for displays and lighting. Samarium-doped scintillators are used in radiation detectors because of their fast decay and characteristic emission. Synthesis methods vary by host and include solid-state reaction and crystal growth for crystalline hosts, as well as melt-quenching or sol-gel processing for glasses and glass-ceramics.