Silver centers luminescence in phosphate glasses subjected to X-rays or combined x-rays and femtosecond laser exposure

The generation of silver species has been investigated in silver-containing sodo-gallo-phosphate glasses subjected to X-ray irradiations. Radioluminescence spectroscopy has evidenced the presence of isolated and paired silver ions. The proportion of silver pairing is found dominant in ortho-phosphate glass compositions, compared to poly-phosphate counterparts. The phosphate glass network is reported to have a decisive impact on X-Ray photosensitivity and the formation of luminescent silver species, namely Ag2+ hole trap silver ions and Agmx+ silver clusters. The subsistence of femtosecond laser produced silver luminescent structures under X-Ray irradiation has been demonstrated.