Radiation-induced absorption in a photo-thermo-refractive glass

Andrei Goussarov, Francis Berghmans, Leonid Glebov, Larissa Glebova, Eugeniu Rotari

    Research outputpeer-review

    Abstract

    Photo-thermo-refractive (PTR) glass is a new photosensitive material for phase hologram recording. This sodium-zinc-aluminum-silicate glass doped with silver, cerium and fluorine exhibits a refractive index modulation after exposure to UV radiation followed by a thermal treatment. Holographic volume gratings recorded in this glass show an absolute diffraction efficiency exceeding 97%, a thermal stability up to 400°C, and a high tolerance to laser radiation. These features support its application for laser beam control in optical communications and surveillance in space-born systems. A specific aspect of the space environment is the presence of ionizing radiation, which is known to influence the properties of optical materials. We studied the induced absorption in PTR glass after exposure to gamma radiation with doses exceeding 10 Mrad. The larger part of the induced absorption is found in the visible and UV spectral regions while in the infrared the absorption level remains sufficiently low to allow a long-term use of this material in space. In this paper, we discuss the structure of the induced absorption spectra in PTR glass and glass matrix which does not contain photosensitive agents.
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationProceedings of SPIE
    Place of PublicationSPIE, Bellingham, WA
    Pages58970-1
    StatePublished - 2005
    EventPhotonics for Space Environments X - SPIE, San Diego, California
    Duration: 1 Aug 20052 Aug 2005

    Conference

    ConferencePhotonics for Space Environments X
    Country/TerritoryUnited States
    CitySan Diego, California
    Period2005-08-012005-08-02

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