The effect of spherical aberration on temperature distribution inside glass by irradiation of a high repetition rate femtosecond pulse laser

In this paper, we study the effect of spherical aberrations on the light intensity and the temperature distribution in the focal region in a 250-kHz femtosecond laser irradiated Ag⁺-doped borosilicate glass. When a focused beam goes through an interface between air and glass, spherical aberration will result in the separation of the focal point and then cause a clear change of the light intensity distribution along the incident direction. That phenomenon will further influence the longitudinal cross-section temperature distribution in glass. Here we use Ag nanoparticle formation as a marker for establishing temperature distribution and we find that the formation of nanoparticle shows a strong dependence on the temperature field and the detailed precipitation process is also discussed.     

Formation of composite materials based on glasses containing a reductant

A rigorous system of equations describing the formation and growth of metallic nanoparticles in a reductant-containing glass upon introduction of reduced metal ions by ion exchange into the glass has been formulated and solved numerically. The influence of the system parameters on the process of nanoparticle growth has been analyzed. The obtained dependences of the distributions of the particle radii and concentrations in the bulk of the glass agree well with the available experimental data.     

Signatures of glass formation in a fluidized bed of hard spheres

We demonstrate that a fluidized bed of hard spheres during defluidization displays properties associated with formation of a glass. The final state is rate dependent, and as this state is approached, the bed exhibits heterogeneity with increasing time and length scales. The formation of a glass results in the arrest of macroscopic particle motion and thus the loss of fluidization. Microscopic motion persists in this state, but the bed can be jammed by application of a small increase in flow rate. Thus a fluidized bed can serve as a test system for studies of glass formation and jamming.     

Characterization of the laser cleaving on glass sheets with a line-shape laser beam

A CO₂ laser with a line-shape beam was used to cleave a soda-lime glass substrate at various beam-rotation angles to the cutting direction. The stress distribution on the glass substrate cleaved by the laser beam has been analyzed in this study. An uncoupled thermal-elastic analysis was achieved by the ABAQUS software based on the finite element method. The numerical results show that the stress field of the fracture is caused by a complex stress state and the cleavages are significantly affected by the heat diffusion and beam rotation angle. At the rotation angle of zero degree to the cleaving direction, the phenomena of the chip formation have been found due to a large temperature gradient at the cleaving depth of the glass substrate.     

High-density bump formation on a glass surface using femtosecond laser processing in water

Micrometer-sized bumps were formed on a glass surface using a focused femtosecond laser processing in water. The bumps were formed over a wide ranges of pulse irradiation parameters, including irradiation energy and focus position. The bumps exhibited a wide variety of morphologies and sizes depending on the parameters. The use of a liquid, namely heavy water, which returns after breakdown and cavitation bubble formation, enabled us to fabricate bumps with high spatial density, which is not possible using a solid coating that is ablated. A desired arrangement of bumps on a glass surface was fabricated by tuning the processing time interval to be more than the disappearance time of a bubble, generated by focusing a femtosecond laser pulse near the water/glass interface. PACS 42.62.Cf; 42.70.Ce; 52.38.Mf; 78.47.+p; 79.20.Ds     

Exciton absorption at the initial stages of the formation of the CuCl phase in a glass

The fundamental absorption spectra of CuCl nanocrystals in glass samples are investigated in the energy range 3–4 eV at a temperature of 300 K with the aim of elucidating the kinetics of the initial stage of the formation of the CuCl phase in the glass. The CuCl phase is grown in the glass under stepwise annealing at temperatures of 500, 615, and 707°C. The kinetics of variation in the intensity and the shift of the maximum in the exciton absorption spectra of CuCl nanocrystals are studied in the course of annealing of the glass samples. It is established that, for all the temperatures under investigation, the formation of the CuCl phase begins with the transient stage that involves the fluctuation formation of supercritical nuclei of the CuCl nanomelt. At a temperature of 500°C, the transient stage gives way to the stage of a rapid increase in the number of supercritical nuclei of the CuCl phase. At temperatures of 615 and 707°C, the transient stage gives way to the stage of an intensive growth of nuclei without a considerable increase in their number. The number of nuclei formed during the transient stage at 707°C is smaller than that observed after the transient stage at 500°C by a factor of 24. However, the sizes of the nuclei formed at 707°C are larger than those observed after the transient stage at 500°C. This difference is explained by the fact that the diffusion length of Cu⁺ ions controlling the formation of the CuCl phase increases with increasing temperature. The experimental data on the kinetics of the formation of the new phase in the glass are in good agreement with the Zel’dovich-Frenkel classical theory of the formation of a new phase, which accounts for the stage of the formation of critical nuclei.     

Studying the structural features of oxide nanoclusters of cerium and titanium in a silicate glass by means of the small-angle neutron scattering

The features of the formation of Ce-Ti-O complex oxide nanoclusters in a silicate glass are studied by means of the small-angle neutron scattering technique. It is found that bounded regions of density fluctuation of the glass material are formed in the initial glass matrix without the addition of titanium and cerium oxides. These regions could serve as nucleation centers for oxide clusters of cerium and titanium upon their introduction into the matrix. The calculated average size of these inhomogeneities does not exceed 30 ± 1 nm, and their surface volume equals 0.72 ± 3 nm³. A structural mechanism for Ce-Ti-O oxide formation in a silicate glass, in which the nanoclusters are formed within a bounded region of glass material inhomogeneities at low concentrations of the initial cerium oxide (CeO₂), is proposed. At high cerium oxide concentrations, oxide nanocluster growth occurs predominantly on the surface of these inhomogeneities. This leads to a sharp change in the nanocluster sizes and their fractal dimension.     

Meniscus instability in a thin elastic film

A new kind of meniscus instability leading to the formation of stationary fingers with a well-defined spacing has been observed in experiments with elastomeric films confined between a plane rigid glass and a thin curved glass plate. The wavelength of the instability increases linearly with the thickness of the confined film, but it is remarkably insensitive to the compliance and the energetics of the system. However, lateral amplitude (length) of the fingers depends on the compliance of the system and on the radius of curvature of the glass plate. A simple linear stability analysis is used to explain the underlying physics and the key observed features of the instability.     

Electroless plating of copper on surface-modified glass substrate

This work focuses on developing a novel convenient method for electroless copper deposition on glass material. This method is relied on the formation of amino (NH₂)-terminated film on the surface of glass substrate, by coating polyethylenimine (PEI) on glass matrix and using epichlorohydrin (ECH) as cross-linking agent. The introduced amino groups can effectively adsorb the palladium, the catalysts which could initiate the subsequent Cu electroless plating, onto the glass substrate surface. Finally, a copper film is formed on the palladium-activated glass substrate through copper electroless plating and the surface-coppered glass material is therefore acquired. X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscope (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images combined with energy diffraction X-ray (EDX) analysis demonstrate the successful copper deposition on the surface of glass substrate.     

Deconstructing the glass transition through critical experiments on colloids

The glass transition is the most enduring grand-challenge problem in contemporary condensed matter physics. Here, we review the contribution of colloid experiments to our understanding of this problem. First, we briefly outline the success of colloidal systems in yielding microscopic insights into a wide range of condensed matter phenomena. In the context of the glass transition, we demonstrate their utility in revealing the nature of spatial and temporal dynamical heterogeneity. We then discuss the evidence from colloid experiments in favor of various theories of glass formation that has accumulated over the last two decades. In the next section, we expound on the recent paradigm shift in colloid experiments from an exploratory approach to a critical one aimed at distinguishing between predictions of competing frameworks. We demonstrate how this critical approach is aided by the discovery of novel dynamical crossovers within the range accessible to colloid experiments. We also highlight the impact of alternate routes to glass formation such as random pinning, trajectory space phase transitions and replica coupling on current and future research on the glass transition. We conclude our review by listing some key open challenges in glass physics such as the comparison of growing static length scales and the preparation of ultrastable glasses that can be addressed using colloid experiments.     

Investigation the spectral scattering characteristics of a nanohole in a film

Based on the method of discrete sources, an analysis is made of the spectral scattering characteristics of a nanohole in a metal film applied onto a glass prism. An effect of extremal electromagnetic energy leakage through the hole is discovered in the evanescent wave formation region.     

Influence of amorphous hydrogenated carbon coating on the strength and cracking resistance of a glass in the high-strength state

The strength of sheet glass treated by etching in a hydrofluoric acid with subsequent deposition of an amorphous hydrogenated carbon coating 50 nm thick is investigated. The carbon coating is applied by ion magnetron sputtering of a chemically pure graphite target. It is shown that the strength of the sheet glass after coating is retained at a level of 2.4 GPa. The leaching of the surface glass layer upon treatment in water at a temperature of 96°C prior to the deposition of a coating leads to an increase in the strength by 12%. The cracking resistance of the glass is examined by the microindentation technique. It is revealed that the load P _c which corresponds to the formation of 50% of all the cracks increases by a factor of three upon deposition of the coating and by a factor of 15 after the preliminary leaching of the glass surface. The assumption is made that the preliminary leaching of the glass surface considerably enhances the adhesion of the hydrogenated carbon film to the glass surface and, thus, improves its protective properties.     

Effect of Yttrium Addition on Glass Forming Ability of ZrCuAlSi Alloy

The effect of yttrium addition on glass formation of a ZrCuAlSi alloy is investigated. The maximum diameter 8mm of the glassy rods for （Zr46.3Cu43.3Al8.9Si1.5）100-xYx alloy with x = 2.5 is obtained by copper mould casting. Apparent enhancement of the glass formation ability is found with addition of yttrium, mainly due to the purification of the alloy melt and the suppression of formation of the primary phases by yttrium.     

Formation of silver nanoparticles with dielectric shell on the silver-containing glass during laser evaporation and ablation

We demonstrate a new method of silver nanoparticles formation on a silver-containing glass surface due to its irradiation by a pulsed CO₂ and YAG:Nd lasers. The particles are formed as a result of reduction of silver ions from the glass at the edges of a laser torch emerging during evaporation and ablation. The settled particles are then fixed on sample surface by a shell of glass dielectric components. The method allows creating plasmonic nanostructures on the glass surface for sensing applications.     

Environmental effects on initiation and propagation of surface defects on silicate glasses: scratch and fracture toughness study

The glass composition and surrounding environment can play an important role in the initiation and propagation of surface defects, which affect the practical strength of glass. We have studied how the environment and glass composition affect the tribological and indentation properties of multicomponent silicate glasses. Soda lime silica and aluminosilicate glasses were studied to compare the effects of the alkali ion and glass network type on surface defect formation. Although both glasses contained leachable sodium ions, the surface wear of soda lime glass decreased with increasing humidity while sodium aluminosilicate glass had an observable increase in surface wear. This indicated that sodium ion and water activity on/in glass surfaces vary depending on the glass network structure. The exchange of Na⁺ with K⁺ in aluminosilicate glass increased the elastic modulus, hardness, and resistance to fracture substantially; however, it did not improve the surface scratch resistance in humid environments. This suggested that the improved fracture toughness for the K-exchanged aluminosilicate glass is mainly due to the improved bulk properties; surface wear can readily take place regardless of Na/K-exchange.     

Studying the interaction of 10-keV electrons with a dielectric surface

The grazing incidence interaction of a 10-keV electron beam with a planar surface of plexiglass is studied experimentally. Moreover, the electron passage through flat channels formed by such surfaces is investigated. The experiments reveal the presence of a guiding effect of the electron passage as in the case of a glass surface. However, there are some features, such as the existence of an initial elevation angle for the case of negative inclination angles of the plate. The formation of self-consistent charge on the surface of the plexiglass and its drain when the current is turned off occur more slowly than on the glass surface. This fact points to the difference in the surface conductivity of insulators.     

High pressure effect on structural transition of Fe cluster during rapid quenching processes

Molecular dynamics simulations of 21,952 atoms have been performed to study local structure evolution and glass formation in iron melts rapidly cooled under high pressures.In the quenching processes,structural transition details have been analyzed by using the radial distribution function g(r) and bond pair analysis technique.It is shown that high pressure strengthens the order degree of the glass system and favors the glass formation.That means with the increase of pressures,a more compacted local structure with more ideal icosahedra can be obtained.The calculations of free volume of the system indicate that the decrease of the number of the defected ideal icosahedra under high pressure contributes to the glass formation of Fe.     

Fracture of silicate glasses: ductile or brittle?

Atomic force microscopy is used to investigate the possibility of cavity formation during crack growth in silicate glasses. Matching areas on both fracture surfaces were mapped and then compared. For silica glass, and soda-lime-silicate glass, the fracture surfaces matched to a resolution of better than 0.3 nm normal to the surface and 5 nm parallel to the surface. We could find no evidence for cavity formation in our study and suggest that completely brittle fracture occurs in glass.     

Formation of a periodic wave structure on the dry surface of a solid by TEA-CO2-laser pulses

The formation of periodic wave patterns on surfaces of insulators and metals by means of TEA-CO₂-laser pulses was observed. The wavelength of the patterns equals that of the laser radiation. The phenomenon is illustrated by samples of quartz glass and copper.     

Formation of a periodic wave structure on the dry surface of a solid by TEA-CO2-laser pulses

The formation of periodic wave patterns on surfaces of insulators and metals by means of TEA-CO₂-laser pulses was observed. The wavelength of the patterns equals that of the laser radiation. The phenomenon is illustrated by samples of quartz glass and copper.