ZnO–TeO2–Yb/Tm glasses with silver nanoparticles as laser operated quantum electronic devices

The incorporation of silver nanoparticles into a Yb/Tm codoped ZnO–TeO2 glass is shown to lead to a substantial increase in optically stimulated second harmonic generation (SHG). The corresponding second order optical susceptibility is equal to 1.32 pm/V at a wavelength of 1064 nm. The optimal conditions required the thermoannealing of the sample for 48 h and the use of a pump-probe delaying time of 12 ns.