Implantation of periodic structures formed by silver particles into quartz glass

• Published in: Optics and spectroscopy 2009-11, Vol.107 (5), p.796-802
• Main Authors: Ageev, L. A., Beloshenko, K. S., Makovetsky, E. D., Miloslavsky, V. K.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Lasers; Optical Devices; Optics; Photonics; Physical Optics; Physics; Physics and Astronomy
• ISSN: 0030-400X; 1562-6911
• DOI: 10.1134/S0030400X09110186

Quartz glass samples with a thin photosensitive AgCl-Ag film, prepared by successive evaporation of AgCl ( h AgCl ≈ 35 nm) and Ag ( h Ag ≈ 8 nm) in vacuum have been investigated. A periodic structure with a period of d = 375 nm formed by Ag particles was obtained in films using a p -polarized laser beam (λ = 532 nm, P = 25 mW) at an angle of incidence of ϕ = 20°. After removing AgCl in a fixing agent, the periodic structure remained on the glass surface. Subsequent irradiation by a CO 2 laser (λ = 10.6 µm, P ≈ 20 W) led to the implantation of this structure into the glass with the conservation of its period d and partial conservation of the related dichroism. The fact of implantation is confirmed by the high mechanical and chemical stability of the structure obtained. A possible implantation mechanism, taking into account the thermionic emission, Ag ionic transport, and the presence of free voids in the quartz glass and defects in its structural network, is discussed.