Structure, thermally and optically induced effects in amorphous As2Se3 films prepared by pulsed laser deposition Original Research Article

Thin amorphous As–Se films were prepared by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) and by classical thermal evaporation techniques. Raman spectra and optical properties (optical gap, Egopt, index of refraction, n, third-order non-linear susceptibility, χ(3)) of prepared films and their photo- and thermally induced changes were studied. The structure of laser deposited films was close to the corresponding bulk glasses contrary to thermal evaporated films. The composition of PLD films was practically unchanged during the process of deposition. The optically and thermally induced changes of n and of Egopt in PLD films are different from the changes in thermally deposited films. The differences are discussed.