Structural peculiarities of niobate glasses for electro-optical applications

Structure of R2O - R'2O - SiO2 - Nb2O5, R2O - R'2O - GeO2 - Nb2O5, R2O - R'2O - P2O5 - Nb2O5 (R, R' = Li, Na, K) glasses were studied by means of Raman scattering and Rayleigh and Mandel's shtam-Brillouin scattering spectroscopy. The Kerr coefficient was measured as a function of glass composition. Microinhomogeneities responsible for Rayleigh scattering losses and electro-optical properties were found on the base of light scattering spectra processing. Comparison of alkali niobate glasses with various glass formers showed that optimum combination of high Kerr coefficient and low Rayleigh scattering losses may be achieved for alkali niobate phosphate glasses.© (2003) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.