Optical properties of lead-bismuth cuprous glasses

The optical transmission and absorption spectra in UV- VIS were recorded in the wavelength range 350–800 nm for different glass compositions in the system (CuO)x(PbO)50−x(Bi2O3)50 (x = 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, 10.0, 12.5, 15.0, 20.0). Absorption coefficient (α), optical energy gap (Eopt), refractive index (nD), optical dielectric constant (ε′∞), measure of extent of band tailing (ΔE), constant (β) and ratio of carrier concentration to the effective mass (N/m*) have been reported. The effects of compositions of glasses on these parameters have been discussed. It has been indicated that a small compositional modification of the glasses lead to an important change in all the optical properties including non-linear behaviour. The optical parameters were found to be almost the same for different glasses in the same family.