Crystallization in Li$_2$O-A1$_2$O$_3$-SiO$_2$ Glass induced by 355 nm Nd:YAG Laser Irradiation

Nd:YAG laser of 355 nm wavelength, which amounts to 3.5 eV, produced by a harmonic generator was used to create Ag metallic particles as seeds for nucleation in photosensitive glass containing $Ag^+$ and $Ce^{3+}$ . The pulse widths and frequency of the laser were 8ns and 10 Hz, respectively. For crystalline growth, heat-treatment following laser irradiation was carried out at $570^{\circ}C$ for 1h. Then, the $LiAlSi_3O^8$ crystal phase appeared in the laser irradiated lithium aluminum silicate glass. We present the effect of laser-induced nucleation compared with spontaneous nucleation by heat treatment fur crystallization in the glass.