Opto-Mechanical Effect in Chalcogenide Glasses
Abstract
The opto-mechanical effect observed in amorphous chalcogenide films deposited onto clamped STM cantilevers 1 has been investigated. In this, bandgap light, incident on the chalcogenide film and linearly polarized either parallel or perpendicular to the cantilever axis, reversibly causes respectively either a contraction or an expansion of the chalcogenide layer, resulting in an optically-actuated displacement of the free end of the clamped cantilever. This effect is electronic, not thermal, in origin, and is believed to be caused by the same photoinduced structural rearrangements that are responsible for the optically induced optical anisotropy observed in chalcogenide glasses. Possible applications of this new all-optical actuation for optical switching will be discussed.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2001
- Accession Number
- ADP011525
Entities
People
- M. Stuchlik
- P. Kreemer
- S. R. Elliott
Organizations
- University of Cambridge