Investigation of spectroscopic properties of Sm3+ doped phosphate glasses for reddish orange light applications

•Sm3+ doped phosphate glasses were prepared by the melt quenching method.•Optical properties have been measured and analyzed.•The Judd-Ofelt intensity parameters, Ω2, Ω4, and Ω6 were determined.•The cross relaxation between Sm3+ ions was studied.•CIE chromaticity co-ordinates are used to evaluate the material performance of luminescent color. Samples of phosphate glasses with composition of (40-x) P2O5-40Na2O-20ZnO-xSm2O3, with Sm3+ ion concentration varying from 0.1 to 2.5%, were synthesized using melt quenching technique and characterized by X-Rays Diffraction, UV–Vis and luminescence spectroscopies. Using Judd-Ofelt analysis, the parameters Ω2, Ω4 and Ω6 of Sm3+ (4f7) were determined. Three transitions of Sm3+: 4G5/2→ 6H5/2, 6H7/2, 6H9/2 were observed from the luminescence spectra. The radiative (τr) and the measured (τmea) lifetimes for 4G5/2 level, were discussed and compared with other works. The quantum efficiency (η) is found to be higher for × = 0.5 mol % of Sm2O3. The CIE chromaticity coordinates were calculated, and it was found that PSm glasses can be suitable for the development of visible lasers in the orange red spectral region.