Precipitation of nanocrystals in glasses by electron irradiation: An alternative path to form glass ceramics?

This letter demonstrates an alternative method to form gallium silicate glass ceramics using high-energy electron irradiation. Compared with glass ceramics obtained from the conventional thermal treatment method, the distribution and crystal sizes of the precipitated Ga2O3 nanoparticles are the same. An advantage of this method is that the spatial distribution of the precipitated nanoparticles can be easily controlled. However, optically active dopants Ni2+ ions do not participate in the precipitation during electron irradiation. (c) 2007 American Institute of Physics.

Fabrication of microfluidic optical waveguides on glass chips with femtosecond laser pulses

We describe the fabrication of microfluidic channel structures on the surface of a borosilicate glass slide by femtosecond laser direct writing for optical waveguide application. Liquid with a variable refractive index is fed into the microchannel, serving as the core of the waveguide. We demonstrate that either a multimode or a single-mode waveguide can be achieved by controlling the refractive index of the liquid. (C) 2007 Optical Society of America

Fluorescent Ag nanoclusters in glass induced by an infrared femtosecond laser

We report a method for the selective introduction of fluorescent Ag nanoclusters in glass. Extinction and photoluminescence spectra show that a fraction of the Ag atoms are generated through femtosecond laser induced multiphoton reduction and then aggregate to form Ag nanoclusters after heat treatment. Red luminescence from the irradiated region is observed under blue or green laser excitation. The fluorescence can be attributed to interband transitions within Ag nanoclusters. This method provides a novel route to fabricate fluorescent nanomaterials in 3D transparent materials. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

OBSERVATION OF CAVITY QUANTUM-ELECTRODYNAMIC EFFECTS IN A ND-GLASS MICROSPHERE

In a Nd:glass microspherical cavity the enhancement and inhibition of spontaneous-emission processes that are due to cavity QED effects have been observed. The rates of the enhanced spontaneous emission are location dependent and reach a maximum value of more than 10(3) times the free-space value. The large enhancement strongly modifies the decay processes of Nd ions in glass, and the radiative properties of Nd:glass have been changed. As a result a new spectrum including new lasing wavelengths in the Nd:glass sphere has been observed.

Ultrafast double pulses ablation of Cr film on glass

Ultrafast lasers ablation of Cr film was investigated by using double-pulse method. Experimental results show that there exists a temporal ablation window effect with each of the double pulses adjusted just smaller than the threshold. When the delay between the double pulses is within the order of 400 ps, the ablation of Cr film could happen. When the delay between the double pulses is beyond the order of 400 ps, the ablation of Cr film would not happen, and the reflectivity from the surface of the Cr film shows a sharp rise at the same time. The two-temperature model was developed into the form of double pulses to explain the experimental phenomena. Furthermore, microbump structures were formed on the surface of Cr film after ablation by ultrafast double pulses. Their heights exhibit an obvious drop between 1 and 10 ps double pulses delay, which is involved with the electron-phonon coupling process according to the numerical simulation. These results should be helpful for understanding the dynamic processes during ultrafast lasers ablation of metal films. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Second-harmonic generation in Ge20As25S55 glass irradiated by an electron beam

Second-harmonic generation was observed in Ge(20)AS(25)S(55) chalcogenide glass irradiated by an electron beam. The second-harmonic intensity increased with increasing electron-beam current and accelerating voltage. The second-harmonic generation in Ge20As25S55 glass was caused by the space-charge electrostatic field that was generated by irradiation of an electron beam. Second-order nonlinearity chi ((2)) as great as 0.8 pm/V was obtained. The results of measurements of thermally stimulated depolarization current indicated that the glass was poled in the thin layers of its surface (several micrometers) and that the nonlinearity was stable. (C) 2001 Optical Society of America.

PIXE and ICP-AES analysis of early glass unearthed from Xinjiang (China)

Early glasses (about 1066 BC-220 AD) unearthed from Xinjiang of China were chemically characterized by using PIXE and ICP-AES. It was found that these glasses were basically attributed to PbO-BaO-SiO2 system, K2O-SiO2 system, Na2O-CaO-SiO2 system and Na2O-CaO-PbO-SiO2 system. The results from the cluster analysis showed that some glasses had basically similar recipe and technology. The PbO-BaO-SiO2 glass and the K2O-SiO2 glass were thought to come from the central area and the south of ancient China, respectively. The part of the Na2O-CaO-SiO2 glass (including the Na2O-CaO-PbO-SiO2 glass) might be imported from Mesopotamia, while the other part might be locally produced. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Origin of Chinese ancient glasses;study on the earliest Chinese ancient glasses

The earliest Chinese ancient glasses before the West Han Dynasty (200 BC) from different regions are studied. The glass samples were unearthed from Hunan, Hubei, Yunnan, Sichuan, Guizhou, Guangdong and Xinjiang of China. The chemical composition of these glasses samples is analyzed by proton induced X-ray emission (PIXE) technique, energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) method and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). It is shown that the glass chemical compositions belong to barium-lead silicate BaO-PbO-SiO2, potash soda lime silicate K2O (Na2O)-CaO-SiO2 (K2O/Na2O > 1), soda potash lime silicate Na2O (K2O)-CaO-SiO2 (K2O/Na2O < 1) and potash silicate K2O-SiO2 glass systems, respectively. The origins of the earliest Chinese ancient glasses are discussed from the archaeological and historical points of view. These four types of Chinese ancient glasses were all made in Chinese territory using local raw materials. The glass preparation technology was related to the Chinese ancient bronze metallurgy and proto-porcelain glaze technology. The glass technology relationship between the East and the West is analyzed at the same time.