Gamma irradiation effect on the optical properties of GexSb40-xS60 chalcogenide glasses

The influence of gamma-irradiation on the optical properties of GexSb40-xS60 chalcogenide glassy system is studied. It is established that long-wave shift of the optical absorption edge or 'gamma-darkening' effect in the investigated glasses depends on their chemical composition or average coordination number Z. The maximum gamma-irradiation effect is observed near the point of Z approximately equals 2.67 and it is absent in Sb-rich ternary bulk samples. The gamma-induced changes of the optical absorption are unstable and restores to some residual value after the period of approximately 2 months. The observed features of the gamma-induced effect are discussed in terms of the compositional dependencies of compactness and fraction of chemical bonds, determined according to the ordered bond network model.© (2001) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.