Effect of composition on the thermal, mechanical, and optical properties of phosphate laser glasses

Abstract

Results are reported from a composition study of forty-one phosphate glasses that are derivatives of a commercially available Nd-doped laser glass. Systematic variations have been made in the quantities of alkali and alkaline earth components in the glass. Correlations are developed relating the compositionally-averaged electric field strength and certain thermal, mechanical, optical and laser properties of these glasses. The compositionally-averaged field strength is found to be a good parameter for predicting the effects of complex mixtures of alkali and alkaline earth components in the glass. However, it is inadequate for explaining the effects of glass components that are predominantly covalently bonded with oxygen. Some possible explanations are given for the observed trends in glass properties with certain compositional changes.