The high-resolution luminescent spectrum of divalent samarium excited by 355 nm UV light at 77 K, the VUV excitation spectra, the VUV excited emission spectra and EXAFS at Sm-L-3 edge were reported for samarium doped strontium borophosphate, SrBPO5:Sm prepared by solid state reaction in air at high temperature. The high-resolution luminescent spectrum showed that the divalent samarium ions occupied the C-2upsilon lattice sites. The VUV excitation spectra indicated that the sample exhibited absorption bands with the maxima at 129 and 148 nm, respectively. The performance of EXAFS at Sm-L3 absorption edge suggested that the samarium ions were nine-coordinated and the mean distances of bond Sm-O were 2.38 Angstrom. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.