Effect of Al on the spectral and spectral-hole-burning properties of sodiumborate glasses doped with Sm2+

Photoluminescence and absorption measurements of Sm2+-doped aluminoborate glasses are reported. The effect of Al on the valence state of samarium and on its photoluminescence properties has been studied. Special attention was paid to the inhomogeneous widths of the 7F0–5D0 transitions. Persistent spectral hole burning was performed at different temperatures to study the variation of homogeneous linewidths and hole-burning kinetics.