Interactions of high current pulsed electron beam with phosphate laser glass

Impact of electron beam bombardment on the surface of Nd3+ doped P2O5-B2O3-Al2O3-BaO laser glass was investigated. Physical properties of the bombarded glass were measured by 3D laser roughometer, microhardness tester, UV/VIS spectrometer, EDS and contact goniometer. Low beam energy had no significant impact on glass surface morphology and other properties. High beam energy increased glass surface roughness and decreased micro-hardness, UV/VIS transmittance and wetting angle. Thermal stress generated by high energy electron beam bombardment expanded the Griffith flaws and increased glass surface roughness.