Attempts to measure thermally stimulated currents in chalcogenide glasses

Abstract

The thermally stimulated currents (TSC) in a number of amorphous chalcogenide glasses are studied. In order to detect small changes in conductivity, after exposure to light, two samples are used in a bridge configuration. The TSC observed are found to be independent of the heating rate and the decay times are of several hours at 300 K. We find that our observations cannot be explained in terms of thermally stimulated currents. Models are discussed to explain the phenomena observed. We suggest that the observed changes in conductivity are caused by the same photoinduced defects which give rise to the reversible light-induced shifts of the optical-absorption edge in a number of chalcogenide glasses.