High performance acousto-optic chalcogenide glass based on Ga2S3-La2S3 systems

Chalcogenide glass systems based on Ga2S3-La2S3 (GLS glass), have been found to exhibit relatively high acousto-optic figures of merit. low acoustic loss and high acoustic velocity. These properties of the GLS glass combined with its transparency both in the visible and the infrared (0.5-10 µm), nontoxity, high softening temperature (Tg = 561 °C), ease of fabrication, optical quality, chemical stability, and isotropic properties, make it attractive for acousto-optic device applications.