γ-ray irradiation induced multiple effects on Ge–As–Se chalcogenide glasses

In this work, multiple effects of γ-ray irradiation on properties of bulk Ge–As–Se chalcogenide glasses were studied. Increased density (ρ), thermal expansion coefficient (α) and decreased optical band gap (Eopt) were observed after irradiation, depending on glass compositions. Glasses with stoichiometric (GeSe2)100−x(As2Se3)x compositions showed linear correlations between As2Se3 proportion x and irradiation sensitivity, which is expressed by Δρ/ρ, Δα/α and ΔEopt/Eopt. Nonstoichiometric glasses (Ge2Se3)100−x(As2Se3)x exhibited irregular variations. The phenomena are discussed in terms of chemical bonds transition and structural evolution under γ-ray irradiation.