On the Reversibility of Laser-induced Phase-Structure Modification of Glass-ceramics

The possibility of reversible structure modification of two glass-ceramics (photosensitive and in-photosensitive) under CO 2 -laser action has been experimentally demonstrated.The virgin glass is converted in to glass-ceramics with use of spontaneous crystallization or photo-thermo-induced one and then under the laser irradiation the glass-ceramics are converted into initial glass state.The rates of such structural modification under laser heating are about 10 2 -10 3 times higher than under conventional heating in a furnace.The laser technology of structural modification of glass-ceramics is very attractive for development and fabrication of new optical components and devices.