Optical properties and valence state of Sm ions in aluminoborosilicate glass under β-irradiation

Sm-doped borosilicate glasses exposed to β-irradiation with doses from 8 × 10 5 up to 4 × 10 9 Gy have been studied by luminescence, Raman and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopies. The luminescence spectra for pristine and irradiated glasses reveal that the β-irradiation process affects valence state of samarium ions. Intense emission at 684 and 727 nm excited by Ar+ laser (514.5 nm) due to the transition of Sm 2+ ion was observed after irradiation. Relative proportion of Sm 2+ ions estimated as a function of both Sm 2O 3 content and irradiation dose has the tendency to increase with increasing irradiation dose. In contrast, the EPR spectra of the studied samples reveal a decrease of the defect content, which are mostly hole defects, produced during irradiation, as a function of Sm 2O 3 content. Finally, the addition of Sm 2O 3 leads to a decrease of the Si–O–Si bending vibration modes shift and polymerisation changes under irradiation.