Localized desvitrifiation in Er3+-doped strontium barium niobate glass by laser irradiation

Localized desvitrifiation in strontium barium niobate glass doped with Er³⁺ under laser irradiation has been carried out. The samples of this study have been fabricated by the melt quenching method and doped with 5% mol of Er³⁺. A 1.5-W cw Ar laser was focused on the sample to obtain desvitrifiation of the glass. Evidence of the changes induced by the Ar laser has been observed through the analysis of the photoluminescence of the Er³⁺ ions. The transitions corresponding to ²H_11/2→⁴I_15/2, ⁴S_3/2→⁴I_15/2 and ⁴F_9/2→⁴I_15/2 have been studied to analyze structure changes. Microluminescence measurements have been carried out to spatially select positions inside and outside the irradiated area. We have observed changes in the emission bands corresponding to these transitions. The emission bands from Er³⁺ ions in the irradiated zone show a resolved structure while they are broadened outside that area. These changes in the optical properties of the Er³⁺ ions indicate that the Ar-laser irradiation has produced a change in the local structure of the material. These results show that a localized desvitrifiation has been produced after the laser action and the transition from glass to glass ceramic has been completed.