Interaction of High-Power Laser Pulses with Glasses Containing Implanted Metal Nanoparticles

Sodium calcium silicate glasses with Ag+ implanted ions are studied. The ion implantation conditions are as follows: the energy is 60 keV, the dose is 7×1016 cm−2, and the ion current density is 10 µA/cm2. Ion implantation provides the formation of a composite layer that incorporates silver nanoparticles in the surface region of glass. The size distribution of nanoparticles over the depth in the composite layer is strongly nonuniform. The effect of a high-power pulsed excimer laser on the composite layer is investigated. It is found that, under laser irradiation, the size of silver nanoparticles in the implanted layer decreases but the size distribution of nanoparticles over the depth remains nonuniform, even though it becomes slightly narrower compared to that observed prior to irradiation. The experimental results are interpreted in terms of the effects of the melting of glass and metallic particles on a nanosecond scale.