Optical nonlinearities in LiKB4O7-Ag2O and LiKB4O7-Ag2O-Gd2O3 glasses containing Ag nanoparticles.

The results on optical studies of LiKB4O7-Ag2O and LiKB4O7-Ag2O-Gd2O3 glasses containing Ag nanoparticles formed during annealing in vacuum and air are presented. Strong bands that appear in optical transmission spectra of the samples correspond to plasmon excitations associated with Ag nanoparticles. The average radius of Ag nanoparticles was retrieved from FWHM of the plasmon bands and found to be 1.8-3.8 nm. Nonlinear optical properties of the glasses were studied by the single-beam Z-scan technique. In particular, influence of Ag nanoparticles on nonlinear refraction n2 and nonlinear absorption ß coefficients was investigated.