Photoluminescence, photostructural transformations and photoinduced anisotropy in rare-earth-doped chalcogenide glassy films

Thin films fabricated by coevaporation in vacuum of chalcogenide glass and a rare-earth (RE) containing material are shown to have strong rare-earth photoluminescence, photostructural transformations and photoinduced anisotropy. The photoluminescence spectra of the films are similar to that of very different Nd- and Er-doped solids. Effects of concentration quenching of luminescence and luminescence fatigue are observed and studied. Using the photoresist effect of the doped films, binary diffraction gratings possessing strong IR photoluminescence were prepared.