Kinetics of Nanoparticles Formation Under UV, VIS and IR Nanosecond Laser Irradiation of a Silver-Ions-Enriched Glass

We reveal the impact of wavelength and energy of a nanosecond laser irradiation on the formation of silver nanoparticles in soda-lime glass enriched with silver ions. Optical extinction spectra, atomic force microscope images and surface profiles of the laser-modified regions of the glass are compared for laser irradiations at 1.06, 0.53 and 0.35 m wavelength in 7-13 J/cm 2 laser fluence range. The evolution of nanoparticles' radius, concentration and size distribution is deduced from optical extinction spectra and supported by Mie-scattering calculations and by experimental characterizations. It is shown that 1) used laser fluencies independently on the wavelengths provide formation of nanoparticles in subsurface glass layer; 2) decrease in the wavelength intensifies glass sputtering and partial removal of formed nanoparticles; 3) the increase in the fluence leads to the formation of higher number of smaller nanoparticles.