Effect of Neodymium : Yttrium aluminum garnet laser irradiation on crystallization in Li2O-Al2O3-SiO2 glass

A 355-nm neodymium:yttrium aluminum garnet laser, produced by a harmonic ge nerator, was used for the nucleation process in photosensitive glass contai ning Ag+ and Ce3+ ions. The pulse width and frequency of the laser were 8 n s and 10 Hz, respectively. Heat treatment was conducted at 570 degreesC for 1 h, following laser irradiation, to produce crystalline growth, after whi ch a LiAlSi3O8 crystal phase appeared in the laser-irradiated Li2O-Al2O3-Si O2 glass. The present study compares the effect of laser-induced nucleation on glass crystallization with that of spontaneous nucleation by heat treat ment.