Nonlinear optical parameters of borate glasses with Ag nanoparticles formed using reducing Gd3+ ions

Abstract

Abstract. Basing on experimental absorption spectra and Z-scan spectra measured in the closed-and open-aperture regimes, we have calculated the nonlinear optical parameters (the refractive index n 2 , the absorption coefficient , and the third-order susceptibility  (3) ) of borate glasses (BGs) Li 2 B 4 O 7 -Gd 2 O 3 -Ag 2 O, CaB 4 O 7 -Gd 2 O 3 -Ag 2 O and LiCaBO 3 -Gd 2 O 3 -Ag 2 O that include Ag nanoparticles (NPs). The Ag NPs have been formed by annealing the glasses in the air atmosphere at the temperatures close to the glass-transition ones. We have proven that Gd 3+ represents an efficiently reducing ion in the BGs. We have also ascertained that the plasmon resonance caused by the presence of Ag NPs increases significantly the nonlinear optical parameters n 2 ,  and│ (3) │of the BGs.