Photo-induced mass transfer in metal nanocluster doped glasses under continuous wave laser irradiation

Mass transfer accompanying continuous wave optical recording in glasses with embedded silver nanoclusters has been studied using optical microscopy, STEM and AFM. Recording was carried out by two crossed laser beams (514 nm), which created a periodic intensity distribution on the illuminated surface of the glass-silver composites. The quality of the recorded gratings was found to be independent of the light polarization. It was determined that laser irradiation induces two mass transfer processes: diffusion coalescence of nanoclusters and redistribution of silver between illuminated and nonilluminated interference lines. The temperature profile under the illuminated surface has been calculated, as well as the kinetics of the mass redistribution.