Infrared femtosecond laser pulse–induced permanent reduction of Eu^3+ to Eu^2+ in a fluorozirconate glass

We report what is believed to be the first observation of permanent photoreduction of Eu(3+) to Eu(2+) in transparent and colorless Eu(3+) -doped fluorozirconate glass at room temperature, using an infrared femtosecond laser. Difference absorption and electron-spin-resonance spectra of the glass before and after laser irradiation showed that a portion of the Eu(3+) ions in the focused part of the laser inside the glass were reduced to Eu(2+) ions after laser irradiation. It is suggested that Eu(3+) ions act as electron-trapping centers, whereas active sites in the glass matrix act as hole-trapping centers, leading to the formation of Eu(2+) ions. The observed phenomenon is inferred to be useful in the fabrication of optical memory devices with high storage density and waveguide-type micro-optical devices.