Energy transfer between samarium and europium in phosphate glasses

A study of energy transfer from samarium to europium in phosphate glasses was performed for a range of donor and acceptor concentrations corresponding to a donor-acceptor distance of 13–24 Å. The energy transfer probabilities were calculated. The mechanism of transfer was deduced by fitting the experimental decay curves to the theoretical curves obtained by Inokuti and Hiroyama. Theoretical transition probabilities based on Dexter's formula were calculated. It was inferred that the energy is transferred by a dipole-quadrupole mechanism which is assisted by phonons. It was possible to indicate the path by which the transfer takes place.