Novel laser writing mechanism in void rich columnar thin films for optical storage applications

Rao, Kameswara L (1989) Novel laser writing mechanism in void rich columnar thin films for optical storage applications. In: Optics Communications, 72 (3-4). pp. 163-168.

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Abstract

A novel optical darkening effect has been observed due to transient laser irradiation, in semitransparent thin films of PbTe containing void rich columnar microstructure. Oblique deposition technique is used to generate the columnar microstructure in these films. A free running Nd:YAG laser is used to irradiate the films. The darkening effect is analysed using optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. This darkening effect is found to be distinctly different from the well known photodarkening phenomena in amorphous materials and gives rise to high optical contrast a relatively low laser writing energy of 2 to 3 $nJ/ \mu m^2$. A novel interactive mechanism, based on a new morphological transformation in the intravoid region of the columnar microstructure is proposed to explain the observed darkening effect.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	Optics Communications
Publisher:	Elsevier Science
Additional Information:	Copyright of this article belongs to Elsevier Science
Department/Centre:	Division of Physical & Mathematical Sciences > Instrumentation Appiled Physics
Date Deposited:	23 Feb 2008
Last Modified:	19 Sep 2010 04:42
URI:	http://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/12893

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