Formation of an ensemble of silver nanoparticles in the process of surface evaporation of glass optical waveguides doped with silver ions by the radiation of a pulsed CO2 laser

It is shown that pulsed irradiation (a wavelength of 10.6 μm and an energy density of 0.6–8.5 Jcm^-2) of glass with a waveguide layer containing silver ion leads to the formation of a ring, surrounding the irradiated zone and consisting of silver nanoparticles deposited on the glass surface. The possible process of formation of silver nanoparticles under laser irradiation is discussed.