Characterization of PbO-B2O3-GeO2-La2O3 and PbO-B2O3-SiO2-ZnO glasses: refractive, acoustic, photo-elastic and acousto-optic properties

Abstract

New high-lead glasses with two different compositions are subjected to comprehensive material characterization. In particular, their refractive indices, optical transmission spectra, photo-elastic, piezo-optic and strain-optic constants, ultrasound velocities and elastic constants are measured. We find the shortwavelength absorption edges as λedge = 383 and 475 nm for these compounds. The acousto-optic figures of merit are calculated for the glasses under study. Their maximal acousto-optic figures of merit turn out to be higher than the corresponding values for fused silica and dense flint glasses, which are known as vitreous materials widely used in serial acousto-optic modulators.