γ-ray irradiation induced multiple effects on Ge-As-Se chalcogenide glasses

In this work, multiple effects of γ-ray irradiation on properties of bulk Ge-As-Se chalcogenide glasses were studied. Increased density (ρ), thermal expansion coefficient (α) and decreased optical band gap (Eopt) were observed after irradiation, depending on glass compositions. Glasses with stoichiometric (GeSe2)100−x(As2Se3)x compositions showed linear correlations between As2Se3 proportion x and irradiation sensitivity, which is expressed by Δρ/ρ, Δα/α and ΔEopt/Eopt. Nonstoichiometric glasses (Ge2Se3)100−x(As2Se3)x exhibited irregular variations. The phenomena are discussed in terms of chemical bonds transition and structural evolution under γ-ray irradiation.