Effect of nanosecond UV laser irradiation on luminescence and absorption in silver- and copper-containing phosphate glasses

Experimental evidence is presented that nanosecond UV laser irradiation of silver- and copper-containing barium phosphate glasses leads to luminescence quenching in the visible range. Subsequent heat treatment induces an absorption in the range 350–500 nm. These effects are due to the ionisation and fragmentation of subnanometre molecular clusters by laser radiation and subsequent (heat treatment-induced) formation of nanoparticles possessing plasmon resonance. Our numerical modelling results demonstrate the feasibility of producing stable Ag_nCu_m hybrid molecular clusters in glass. Local modification of the optical properties of glass by laser light can be used for optical information recording.