Interaction of high-power laser light with silver nanocluster composite glasses

The size and size distribution of silver nanoclusters embedded in soda-lime glasses (formed by ion irradiation of Ag+-Na+ ion-exchanged waveguides) has been modified by high-power laser irradiation. Optical transmittance in the visible range is found to increase above the energy threshold E*=0.3+/-0.1 J/cm(2) for lambda=532 nm and E*=5+/-1 J/cm(2) for lambda=1064 nm for pulse lengths of about 10 ns, Cluster size reduction has been observed. Small radii silver nanoclusters are also formed after laser irradiation of ion-exchanged waveguides. The optical response of the composites has been determined by optical absorption spectroscopy. Transmission electron microscopy, x-ray photoelectron and Auger electron spectroscopies, and Rutherford backscattering spectrometry have been used to characterize the composites. (C) 1996 American Institute of Physics.