Linear and Non Linear Optical Properties of Nanoparticles Dispersed Novel Glasses

Abstract

Constant efforts are being made by the researchers to develop a suitable and efficient material to be used for optical applications. Composite materials formed by the incorporation of metal nanoparticles in glass are the most preferred as they exhibit striking third order nonlinearity and ultrafast time response. Moreover, remarkable modification in optical behavior can be achieved by controlling amount, size and shape of the nanoparticles. In addition to this, the local environment around the nanoparticles plays a crucial role which is an intrinsic function of glass composition. In most of the traditional methods, used for the production of such nanocomposites, metallic salts are first introduced in the glass matrix and get transformed to nanoparticles as a result of pulsed laser beam exposure or heat treatment. This post treatment eventually induces crystallization of glass with associated scattering of light and hence, resulting in reduced optical quality of material. In the present work, direct incorporation of metallic nanoparticles in the glass matrix has been studied in detail which could be an effective solution for above-mentioned limitations. The entire work is organized in following eight chapters: Chapter 1 gives a brief description and background of basic phenomena leading to the origin of ultrafast nonlinear response in glass nanocomposites (GNCs). Various fabrication routs followed to prepare such GNCs are discussed along with their real-time limitation to summarize the importance and need of direct incorporation of metallic nanoparticles. Moreover, the basic structure of borate glasses along with their features leading to enhanced nonlinear behavior is discussed in detail.