Femtosecond laser induced structural changes in fluorozirconate glass

Simon Gross; David G. Lancaster; Heike Ebendorff-Heidepriem; Tanya M. Monro; Alexander Fuerbach; Michael J. Withford

doi:10.1364/OME.3.000574

Femtosecond laser induced structural changes in fluorozirconate glass

Simon Gross^*, David G. Lancaster, Heike Ebendorff-Heidepriem, Tanya M. Monro, Alexander Fuerbach, Michael J. Withford

^*Corresponding author for this work

MQ Photonics Research Centre

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

48 Citations (Scopus)

83 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Fluorozirconate glasses, such as ZBLAN (ZrF₄-BaF₂-LaF₃- AlF₃-NaF), have a high infrared transparency and large rare-earth solubility, which makes them an attractive platform for highly efficient and compact mid-IR waveguide lasers. We investigate the structural changes within the glass network induced by high repetition rate femtosecond laser pulses and reveal the origin of the observed decrease in refractive index by using Raman microscopy. The high repetition rate pulse train causes local melting followed by rapid quenching of the glass network. This results in breaking of bridging bonds between neighboring zirconium fluoride polyhedra and as the glass resolidifies, a larger fraction of single bridging fluorine bonds relative to double bridging links are formed in comparison to the pristine glass. The distance between adjacent zirconium cations is larger for single bridging than double bridging links and consequently an expansion of the glass network occurs. The rarified glass network can be related to the experimentally observed decrease in refractive index via the Lorentz-Lorenz equation.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	574-583
Number of pages	10
Journal	Optical Materials Express
Volume	3
Issue number	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1364/OME.3.000574
Publication status	Published - 2013

Bibliographical note

This paper was published in Optical materials express and is made available as an electronic reprint with the permission of OSA. The paper can be found at the following URL on the OSA website: http://www.opticsinfobase.org/ome/abstract.cfm?uri=ome-3-5-574. Systematic or multiple reproduction or distribution to multiple locations via electronic or other means is prohibited and is subject to penalties under law.

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title = "Femtosecond laser induced structural changes in fluorozirconate glass",

abstract = "Fluorozirconate glasses, such as ZBLAN (ZrF4-BaF2-LaF3- AlF3-NaF), have a high infrared transparency and large rare-earth solubility, which makes them an attractive platform for highly efficient and compact mid-IR waveguide lasers. We investigate the structural changes within the glass network induced by high repetition rate femtosecond laser pulses and reveal the origin of the observed decrease in refractive index by using Raman microscopy. The high repetition rate pulse train causes local melting followed by rapid quenching of the glass network. This results in breaking of bridging bonds between neighboring zirconium fluoride polyhedra and as the glass resolidifies, a larger fraction of single bridging fluorine bonds relative to double bridging links are formed in comparison to the pristine glass. The distance between adjacent zirconium cations is larger for single bridging than double bridging links and consequently an expansion of the glass network occurs. The rarified glass network can be related to the experimentally observed decrease in refractive index via the Lorentz-Lorenz equation.",

author = "Simon Gross and Lancaster, \{David G.\} and Heike Ebendorff-Heidepriem and Monro, \{Tanya M.\} and Alexander Fuerbach and Withford, \{Michael J.\}",

note = "This paper was published in Optical materials express and is made available as an electronic reprint with the permission of OSA. The paper can be found at the following URL on the OSA website: http://www.opticsinfobase.org/ome/abstract.cfm?uri=ome-3-5-574. Systematic or multiple reproduction or distribution to multiple locations via electronic or other means is prohibited and is subject to penalties under law.",

year = "2013",

doi = "10.1364/OME.3.000574",

language = "English",

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pages = "574--583",

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T1 - Femtosecond laser induced structural changes in fluorozirconate glass

AU - Gross, Simon

AU - Lancaster, David G.

AU - Ebendorff-Heidepriem, Heike

AU - Monro, Tanya M.

AU - Fuerbach, Alexander

AU - Withford, Michael J.

N1 - This paper was published in Optical materials express and is made available as an electronic reprint with the permission of OSA. The paper can be found at the following URL on the OSA website: http://www.opticsinfobase.org/ome/abstract.cfm?uri=ome-3-5-574. Systematic or multiple reproduction or distribution to multiple locations via electronic or other means is prohibited and is subject to penalties under law.

PY - 2013

Y1 - 2013

N2 - Fluorozirconate glasses, such as ZBLAN (ZrF4-BaF2-LaF3- AlF3-NaF), have a high infrared transparency and large rare-earth solubility, which makes them an attractive platform for highly efficient and compact mid-IR waveguide lasers. We investigate the structural changes within the glass network induced by high repetition rate femtosecond laser pulses and reveal the origin of the observed decrease in refractive index by using Raman microscopy. The high repetition rate pulse train causes local melting followed by rapid quenching of the glass network. This results in breaking of bridging bonds between neighboring zirconium fluoride polyhedra and as the glass resolidifies, a larger fraction of single bridging fluorine bonds relative to double bridging links are formed in comparison to the pristine glass. The distance between adjacent zirconium cations is larger for single bridging than double bridging links and consequently an expansion of the glass network occurs. The rarified glass network can be related to the experimentally observed decrease in refractive index via the Lorentz-Lorenz equation.

AB - Fluorozirconate glasses, such as ZBLAN (ZrF4-BaF2-LaF3- AlF3-NaF), have a high infrared transparency and large rare-earth solubility, which makes them an attractive platform for highly efficient and compact mid-IR waveguide lasers. We investigate the structural changes within the glass network induced by high repetition rate femtosecond laser pulses and reveal the origin of the observed decrease in refractive index by using Raman microscopy. The high repetition rate pulse train causes local melting followed by rapid quenching of the glass network. This results in breaking of bridging bonds between neighboring zirconium fluoride polyhedra and as the glass resolidifies, a larger fraction of single bridging fluorine bonds relative to double bridging links are formed in comparison to the pristine glass. The distance between adjacent zirconium cations is larger for single bridging than double bridging links and consequently an expansion of the glass network occurs. The rarified glass network can be related to the experimentally observed decrease in refractive index via the Lorentz-Lorenz equation.

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DO - 10.1364/OME.3.000574

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:84880410470

SN - 2159-3930

VL - 3

SP - 574

EP - 583

JO - Optical Materials Express

JF - Optical Materials Express

IS - 5

ER -

Femtosecond laser induced structural changes in fluorozirconate glass

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