We have systematically studied the interaction between Mn

2+

and Sm

3+

centers in ZnS.The emission and excitation spectra and the luminescence decay are measured.It is found that a part of the excitation energy of Mn

2+

center can transfer to Sm

3+

center.The energy transfer process is nonradia-tive and the interaction between these two centers is dipole-dipole interaction.In the excitation spectrum in which the intensity of Sm

3+

emission band is recorded for ZnS:Mn

Sm

we have observed five additional bands due to the excitation of Mn

2+

ion from its ground state

6

A

1

to different excited states

4

T

1

(

4

G)

4

T

2

(

4

G)

4

E(

4

G)

4

T

2

(

4

D)and

4

E(

4

D).It implies that one can observe the the luminescence of Sm

3+

by exciting the Mn

2+

center when ZnS is doped with both Mn

2+

and Sm

3+

.As an argument of the energy transfer from Mn

2+

to Sm

3+

we have shown

in this paper

the emission spectra of ZnS:Mn

Sm under the excitation by laser lines 488nm

514.5nm and 530nm which are close to the excitation bands of Mn

2+

center

i.e.490nm and 530nm.