title: Reversible giant photocontraction in chalcogenide glass.
abstract: It is shown that chalcogenide glasses with suitably underconstrained network can undergo reversible giant photocontractions up to a micron depth. These effects result from the combination of two attributes particular to these glasses, (i) the high photosensitivity characteristic of low coordination floppy networks and (ii) the wide window of structural configuration characteristic of fragile glass former. Interestingly these effects are reversible and subsequent irradiation with high intensity results in giant photoexpansion in the same glass. The combination of subsequent photocontraction and photoexpansion on the same glass surface has good potential for the design of complex optical elements.
authors.affiliation: Department of Engineering Physics, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario L8S4L7, Canada. logand@mcmaster.ca
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Calvez
authors.forename: Zhiyong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lucas