Femtosecond laser structuring and optical properties of a silver and zinc phosphate glass

We report on the micro- and nano-structuring of a silver-containing zinc phosphate glass under high repetition rate femtosecond near-infrared laser exposure. Luminescent silver clusters are locally formed thanks to multi-photon absorption. The excitation mechanisms in the glass are investigated with a transient absorption pump-probe experiment. The free electron density of the femtosecond-laser-induced ionized material for irradiation conditions leading to structural modifications is measured. We show that the involved photo-excitation process in the laser–glass interaction is a four-photon absorption and the measured free electron density is on the order of 1017 cm− 3, four orders of magnitude below the critical electron density. The luminescence properties of these resulting structures have been investigated. Emission spectra are compared with those collected after different irradiations (γ and electron beams). The migration of silver species has been assigned to be responsible for local modifications and selective acid etching behavior of the structure.