Gamma-Induced Absorption Bands Associated with Tl+, Pb2+, or Bi3+ in Potassium Borate Glasses

Gamma irradiation of potassium borate glasses containing about 1.8 mole % Tl⁺, Pb²⁺, or Bi³⁺ resulted in two induced absorption bands which the authors call T and L bands. The T band was observed at about 1.1, 1.55, or 1.8 ev, and the L band was observed at about 1.8, 2.6, or 2.7 ev in alkali borate glasses containing Tl⁺, Pb²⁺, or Bi³⁺, respectively. The shifting of the band positions to higher energies was attributed to the increasing polarizing power of these ions as in the case of the F band induced in alkali halides. The effect of the addition of cerium on the intensity of the T and L bands induced in glasses containing lead or thallium and prepared under different melting conditions suggested strongly that these two bands are associated with electron trap centers near these ions.     

Gamma-Ray Induced Coloring of Some Phosphate Glasses

The changes in gamma-ray induced optical absorption in phosphate glasses resulting from changes in composition, conditions during melting, and additions of small amounts of some oxides are discussed. A resolution of the induced spectra showed that the observed absorption is due to the superposition of three bands at 2.3, 2.9, and 5.5 e.v. (540, 425, and 225 mü) and to a fourth band whose absorption peak is beyond 6 e.v. The ultraviolet induced absorption increases, whereas the visible absorption decreases in glasses melted under reducing conditions as opposed to those melted under normal conditions in air and on replacement of K⁺ by Na⁺ or Li⁺. A similar effect is produced on replacement of Ba⁺⁺ by Pb++ and on the addition of T1₂O to a CaO-P₂O₅ glass or the addition of As₂O₃ to a CaOP₂O₅, GeO₂ glass. Additions of large amounts of GeO₂ are accompanied by a decrease in the number of nonbridging oxygens and a decrease in the visible induced absorption. Replacement of Ca ⁺⁺ by Ba⁺⁺ ions showed an over-all decrease in the induced absorption. The addition of small amounts of the oxides of germanium, titanium, iron, thallium, niobium, and arsenic showed an appreciable effect in inhibiting the visible induced coloration.     

A Gamma-Ray Induced Absorption Band in Some Lead Borate Glasses

Observations made on some lead borate, lead aluminoborate, and lead boroaluminosilicate glasses have shown that an absorption band is induced at 1.5 e.v. (825 mμ) by gamma irradiation. Experimental evidence indicates that this band is associated with Pb²⁺ ions and boron in the structure of these glasses. On replacing PbO by Tl₂O in a borate glass, two strong bands were observed; one band corresponds to the 1.5 e.v. band induced in lead borate glasses and a completely new band at 1.0 e.v. (1235 mμ). A postulate for the center responsible for the absorption band at 1.5 e.v. is proposed.     

Role of Iron in Calcium Phosphate Glasses

Some physical properties okf phosphate glasses con-taining up to about 26 mol% Fe₂O₂ were studied. Pronounced changes in properties were observed at compositions containingabout 6, 10, and 13 mol% Fe₂O₃. The X-ray diffraction spectra of devitrified (heat-treated) samples showed new compounds near these compositions. Electron spin resonance and optical studies confirmed the presence of Fe³⁺ and Fe²⁺ in both 4- and 6-coordination. An increase in total iron in these samples was associated with a decrease in the ratios Fe²⁺ 4-coordinated/Fe³⁺ 6-coordinated 6-coordinated and Fe³⁺ 4-coordinated/Fe³⁺ 6-coordinated up to about 2.0 mol% Fe₂O₃, as shown by the intensity of the optical absorption bands at about 2.0 and 1.0 μm and by the intensity of the ESR lines at g⋍4.2 and 2.0, respectively. Samples containing up to 4.3 mol% Fe₂O₃ showed an increase in Fe³⁺ concentration and a decrease in Fe²⁺ concentration after gamma irradiation. The electrical conductivity and activation energy decreased sharply with increasing Fe₂O₃ content.     

Infrared Spectroscopy of Lead and Alkaline-Earth Aluminosilicate Glasses

Infrared spectroscopic studies of lead and alkaline-earth aluminosilicate glasses in the series x MO- x Al₂O₃ (1 - 2 x )SiO₂ M = Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, and Pb; 0.05 x 0.275] were carried out in the range 2000 to 200 cm⁻¹. Three major absorption bands were observed in the 1100-, 800-, and 500-cm⁻¹ regions. The frequency and the intensity of the 1100-cm⁻¹ band varied linearly with composition. For a specific value of x , the changes in the frequency, intensity, and bandwidth of this band decreased in the order Mg > Ca > Sr > Pb > Ba and the apparent disorder in the glass structure, effected by the substitution of aluminum, increased in the direction Mg < Ca < Sr < Ba, with Pb in between Mg and Ca. The force constants and the bond orders of the Si-O and Al-O stretching vibrations in each of the glasses increased monotonically as Al/(Al + Si) decreased.     

Absorption Spectra and Concentration-Dependent Luminescence of Mn2+ in Silicate Glasses

Glasses activated with Mn²⁺ exhibit green to red luminescence. A widely accepted model proposes that these colors denote 4- and 6-coordination, respectively, for Mn²⁺. The luminescence and absorption of Mn²⁺-activated silicate glasses were studied; the luminescence changed from green to red with increasing Mn²⁺ concentration. The difference in the intensities of emission bands with peaks near 520 and 620 nm accounts for the luminescent color. No experimental evidence for a change in coordination from 4 to 6 was found. Exchange-coupled groupings are proposed to explain red emission in these glasses and possibly in borate and phosphate glasses studied by other workers. Improved resolution of bands and theoretical calculations demonstrate that a covalent-octahedral Mn²⁺ species can account for the spectral data for the silicate glasses.     

Zinc Tellurite Glasses

Glass formation was observed in the system ZnO-TeO₂ in mixtures containing 20 to 40 mole % ZnO. Softening occurred at 350°C and the glasses crystallized at 400°C. High dielectric constants (ca. 20) and high electrical resistivities (ca. 10¹¹ ohm-cm⁻¹) were measured. The zinc tellurite glasses have a higher density and refractive index and are considerably softer than silicate glasses. The optical transmission range was between 0.38 and 6.6μ with two absorption bands in the infrared. Spectra of Cu²⁺ and Nd³⁺ doped samples are also given.     

Effect of Molybdenum on the Structure and on the Crystallization of SiO2–Na2O–CaO–B2O3 Glasses

Crystallization of the poorly durable Na₂MoO₄ phase able to incorporate radioactive cesium must be avoided in SiO₂–Al₂O₃–B₂O₃–Na₂O–CaO glasses developed for the immobilization of Mo-rich nuclear wastes. Increasing amounts of B₂O₃ and MoO₃ were added to a SiO₂–Na₂O–CaO glass, and crystallization tendency was studied. Na₂MoO₄ crystallization tendency decreased with the increase of B₂O₃ concentration whereas the tendency of CaMoO₄ to crystallize increased due to preferential charge compensation of BO₄⁻ entities by Na⁺ ions. ²⁹Si MAS NMR showed that molybdenum acts as a reticulating agent in glass structure. Trivalent actinides surrogate (Nd³⁺) were shown to enter into CaMoO₄ crystals formed in glasses.     

Interaction of Gamma Rays with Calcium Aluminoborate Glasses Containing Holmium or Erbium

The optical absorption spectra of nominally pure and rare-earth-ion-doped (Ho³⁺ or Er³⁺) calcium aluminoborate (cabal) glasses were measured from 190 to 900 nm before and after γ-ray irradiation. The induced absorption spectra, calculated as the difference between the spectra of the irradiated and the unirradiated glasses, exhibit the characteristic absorption bands caused by the respective rare-earth ions. The intensity of the induced bands depends on the rare-earth oxide content. The response of the cabal glass to γ-ray irradiation is related to the formation of color centers associated with the intrinsic defects in the lattice structure of the cabal glass. The rates of formation and annihilation of the color centers are believed to approach saturation or equilibrium with prolonged irradiation.     

Raman Spectroscopy of Heat-Treated B2O3-SiO2 Glasses

Raman spectra were measured on B₂O₃-SiO₂ glasses heat-treated at different temperatures and for different periods of time. It was found that the intensity ratio of the 810- and 475-cm⁻¹ bands depended on the thermal history and composition of glass. The intensity vs heat-treatment temperature curve exhibited a maximum in the glass-transition temperature range. High-temperature Raman spectra were measured on 0.5B₂O₃-0.5SiO₂ glass, both with increasing and decreasing temperature, between room temperature and 600°C. Above 300°C with increasing temperature, the intensity of the 810-cm⁻¹ band decreased, whereas the intensity of the 475-cm⁻¹ band increased. The changes reversed with decreasing temperature. The reversible change of the intensity of the two bands was interpreted as a reversible formation and decomposition of boroxy rings with temperature. The reaction becomes very sluggish below the glass transition so that the intensity ratio stayed constant below 300°C.     

Reduction of Eu3+ to Eu2+ in Aluminoborosilicate Glasses Prepared in Air

Eu₂O₃-doped aluminoborosilicate glasses were prepared in air at high temperature. Luminescence measurements were used to investigate a valence change from Eu³⁺ to Eu²⁺ ions in the aluminoborosilicate glasses. The results showed that the doped Eu³⁺ ions were partially reduced to Eu²⁺ in the Eu₂O₃:RO–Al₂O₃–B₂O₃–SiO₂ (RO=CaO, SrO, BaO, Li₂O) glasses, but not in the Eu₂O₃:RO–Al₂O₃–B₂O₃–SiO₂ (RO=Na₂O, K₂O) glasses. The changes of Eu reduction with different RO components were discussed with the variation of optical basicity of RO and with different valency of R cations. The effects of co-doping BaO and ZnO in aluminoborosilicate glasses on Eu reduction were also investigated and discussed.     

Tellurite Glasses for Broadband Amplifiers and Integrated Optics

The present investigation discusses the advantage of using RE-ion-doped (Nd³⁺, Tm³⁺, and Er³⁺) TeO₂ glasses for developing fiber and planar broadband amplifiers and lasers. The spectroscopy of RE-ion-doped fibers and glasses is discussed along with the thermal properties of glass hosts. The results of emission from the ³H₄ level in single-mode Tm³⁺-doped tellurite fiber show that the emission band overlaps with Er³⁺ emission from the ⁴I_13/2 level and Nd³⁺ emission from the ⁴F_3/2 level in silicate and tellurite glasses, thereby enabling the development of amplifiers and lasers between 1350 and 1650 nm. Recent results using Z-scan measurements of nonlinear refractive index and absorption demonstrate that the third-order nonlinearity in undoped TeO₂ glasses is of the order of 2 × 10⁻¹⁵ to 3 × 10⁻¹⁵ cm²·W⁻¹ between 1300 and 1550 nm. These results are briefly discussed in view of an amplifier operation combined with ultrafast all-optical switching.     

Tm3+-Doped Gallium–Germanium–Bismuth–Lead Glasses as 1.47 μm Fiber Amplifier Materials

We report the spectroscopic properties of Tm³⁺-doped and Tm³⁺/Ho³⁺-codoped [Ga₂O₃–GeO₂–Bi₂O₃–PbO (PbF₂)] glasses for S-band optical amplifications. The Judd–Ofelt intensity parameters have been determined based on the measured absorption spectra. It is found that PbF₂-modified glasses exhibit a lower Ω₂ value, and the addition of PbF₂ caused the chemical bond associated with Tm³⁺ ions to be more ionic. The PbF₂-free glasses have large peak emission cross-sections in the range of 2.15–2.18 × 10⁻²¹ cm². Meanwhile, the studied glasses exhibit broad 1.47 μm emission with the full width at half-maximum of 119–126 nm. The results indicate that these glasses are useful host material for broadband S-band fiber amplifiers.     

Redox State of Iron and Its Related Effects in the CaO–P2O5–Fe2O3 Glasses

Iron exists in Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺ states in CaO–P₂O₅–Fe₂O₃ glasses and they impart characteristic optical absorption bands that allow analysis of relative proportion of the two species. This communication reports the redox states of glasses melted under air, argon, and oxygen atmospheres and relates them to the dissolution rates. The dissolution rate was found to be related to the redox state and it is lowered if the glass is melted under oxidizing atmospheres.     

Point Defects and Chromium(IV) Formation Mechanism in Gallia- and Alumina-Based Oxide Glasses

Point defects were found in as-quenched GeO₂, 65CaO35Al₂O₃, and 65SrO35Ga₂O₃ glasses on the basis of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) measurements. These defects were identified as Ge É centers in GeO₂ glass and O^-₂, O^-₃, and M-OHC (oxygen hole center) (where M = Al, Ga) in 65CaO35Al₂O₃ and 65SrO35Ga₂O₃ glasses. The formation of Ge É centers in as-quenched GeO₂ glass was due to the thermodynamic stability of GeO at the melting temperature. The latter oxygen-excess defects are supposed to be formed by excess oxygen ions derived from the modifiers in the aluminate and gallate glasses during the formation of these glasses. To investigate some of the properties of the oxygen-excess defects in the calcium aluminate and strontium gallate glasses, chromium ions were doped in these glasses as a probe and the relationship between the valency state of the chromium ion and the defects was determined. We conclude that the peroxy bonding (-O-O-) oxidizes the Cr³⁺ species to Cr⁴⁺. Similar defects have been identified in host compounds that are used for Cr⁴⁺ tunable lasers. These results reveal that the point defects are necessary to stabilize the Cr⁴⁺ ions in glasses and crystals.     

Populations and Emission Properties of the 5I6 and 5I7 Levels in Ho3+ Doped into PbO–Bi2O3–Ga2O3 Glasses

Emission properties of PbO–Bi₂O₃–Ga₂O₃ glasses doped with Ho³⁺ were investigated for fiber-optic amplification at the 1.18 μm wavelength region. When the glasses were doped with Ho³⁺ ions only, there was a weak emission at 1.18 μm with a lifetime of ∼200 μs. However, when Yb³⁺ ions were codoped, the lifetime of the 1.18 μm emission increased to 630 μs together with a significant increase in intensity. A similar enhancement in the intensity and lifetimes was realized for the 2.05 μm emission. These effects are due to energy transfer from the Yb³⁺:²F_5/2 to the Ho³⁺:⁵I₆ level. Devitrification of the ternary PbO–Bi₂O₃–Ga₂O₃ glasses was efficiently suppressed by adding 10 mol% GeO₂. Optimum Ho³⁺ concentration was ∼0.4 mol%, whereas Yb³⁺ ions can be added up to the solubility limit.     

Compositional Dependence of Absorption Spectra of Ti3+ in Silicate, Borate, and Phosphate Glasses

Absorption spectra of Ti³⁺ were measured for silicate, borate, and phosphate glasses doped with 0.5 mol% Ti₂O₃.The absorption coefficient at the peak wavelength of the ₂T₂→₂E transition of Ti³⁺ is used as a parameter showing the relative content of Ti³⁺ions in glass samples. The effect of glass composition on Ti³⁺/Ti⁴⁺ redox was studied. For multicomponent glasses, a basicity parameter calculated from glass composition is proposed in terms of coulomb force between the cation and the oxygen ion. The value of the absorption coefficient depends on basicity in silicate and borate glasses; however, it is independent of composition in phosphate glasses.     

Spectroscopic Analysis of the Structure of Silicate Glasses along the Joint xMAlO2-(1–x)SiO2(M = Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs)

Infrared spectroscopic studies of charge-coupled substitution in silicate glasses and crystals along the joints x MAlO₂(1 – x )SiO₂ (M = Li, Na, K, Rb, and Cs; 0.10 ≤ x ≤ 0.60) were carried out in the range 2000 to 200 cm⁻¹ Three major absorption bands appeared in the 1100-, 800-, and 500-cm⁻¹ regions. For a specific value of x, the observed changes in frequency, intensity, and bandwidth decreased in the order Li > Na > K > Rb > Cs and the apparent disorder in the glass structure caused by the substituted aluminum increased in the direction K < Na < Li. The 800-cm⁻¹ band splits at SiO₂≃ 0.75 mol, which has been interpreted in terms of the number of AlO₄ tetrahedra in the structure. Most of the substituted aluminum in the glasses and the crystals was found to be in the fourfold coordination.     

Colors and Magnetic Properties of Iron in Glasses of Various Types and Their Implicationsoncerning Structure: II, Cabal Glasses

The effect of changes in the glass structure on the colors and magnetic susceptibilities of iron was studied in glasses made of CaO, B₂O₃, and Al₂O₃ (cabal glasses). As the number of gaps in the structure increased, an increase in the general absorption and a decrease in magnetic susceptibility was observed and was attributed to ferrous iron in network-forming positions. Further increase in the number of gaps was accompanied by a general increase in transmission as well as by an increase in magnetic susceptibility. This was attributed to the loosening of the structure around the ferrous iron which could easily escape from the interstices and be oxidized to colorless ferric iron taking network-forming positions. The intensity of the ferrous band depended on the concentration of the ferrous iron and also was affected by the polarizing power of the neighboring cations.