Glasses containing metallic nanoparticles exhibit very promising linear and nonlinear optical properties, mainly due to the surface plasmon resonances (SPRs) of the nanoparticles. The spectral position in the visible and near-infrared range and polarization dependence of the SPR are characteristically determined by the nanoparticles’ shapes. The focus of Ultra-Short Pulsed Laser Engineered Metal-Glass Nanocomposites is the interaction of intense ultra-short laser pulses with glass containing silver nanoparticles embedded in soda-lime glass, and nanostructural modifications in metal-glass nanocomposites induced by such laser pulses. In order to provide a comprehensive physical picture of the processes leading to laser-induced persistent shape transformation of the nanoparticles, series of experimental results investigating the dependences of laser assisted shape modifications of nanoparticles with laser pulse intensity, excitation wavelength, temperature are considered. In addition, the resulting local optical dichroism allows producing very flexibly polarizing optical (sub-) microstructures with well-specified optical properties. The achieved considerable progress towards technological application of this technique, in particular also for long-term optical data storage, is also discussed.

Metal Oxide Glass Nanocomposites covers recent developments in metal oxide glass nanocomposites, including a discussion of synthesis methods, properties, characterization methods, and the most promising applications. The book discusses electronic and ionic conduction mechanisms of this materials system with an eye towards device applications. It also provides a comprehensive review of the material’s useful properties and structure at a technical level that is appropriate for materials scientists and engineers, physicists and chemists. Includes a comprehensive overview of metal oxide glass nanocomposite, including its optical properties, magnetic properties, electronic transport, dielectric properties, mechanical properties, and more Reviews a wide range of the most relevant applications, such as photonic, biomedical, electronic and thermoelectric Considers the advantages and disadvantages of metal oxide glass nanocomposites for utilization in key applications

Glass Nanocomposites: Synthesis, Properties and Applications provides the latest information on a rapidly growing field of specialized materials, bringing light to new research findings that include a growing number of technologies and applications. With this growth, a new need for deep understanding of the synthesis methods, composite structure, processing and application of glass nanocomposites has emerged. In the book, world renowned experts in the field, Professors Karmakar, Rademann, and Stepanov, fill the knowledge gap, building a bridge between the areas of nanoscience, photonics, and glass technology. The book covers the fundamentals, synthesis, processing, material properties, structure property correlation, interpretation thereof, characterization, and a wide range of applications of glass nanocomposites in many different devices and branches of technology. Recent developments and future directions of all types of glass nanocomposites, such as metal-glasses (e.g., metal nanowire composites, nanoglass-mesoporous silica composites), semiconductor-glass and ceramic-glass nanocomposites, as well as oxide and non-oxide glasses, are also covered in great depth. Each chapter is logically structured in order to increase coherence, with each including question sets as exercises for a deeper understanding of the text. Provides comprehensive and up-to-date knowledge and literature review for both the oxide and non-oxide glass nanocomposites (i.e., practically all types of glass nanocomposites) Reviews a wide range of synthesis types, properties, characterization, and applications of diverse types of glass nanocomposites Presents future directions of glass nanocomposites for researchers and engineers, as well as question sets for use in university courses

Glass fascinates mankind since its first discovery about 30 thousand years ago. Besides the challenging conditions for fabricating glasses with homogeneous properties the technological prospects for precise machining were first developed in the last millennium. While core areas of glass processing were dominated by well-established mechanical techniques such as scribing, grinding, sawing and polishing the technological progress and ongoing miniaturization demanded alternative processing tools. Within the end of the 20th century the development of ultrashort pulse laser systems paved the way for precise and cost-efficient solutions for materials processing in key technologies such as computer chips, medical surgery or in the field of automotive. Even more, the short pulse duration represents the key to locally process transparent materials within the bulk to induce modifications with feature sizes smaller than the wavelength of light [1, 2]. When focusing ultrashort laser pulses in the bulk of glass nonlinear absorption leads to extreme non-equilibrium states within a confined volume mediating the localized deposition of the laser pulse energy. Fused silica turned out as versatile platform to study the laser-induced modifications. Typically three different kinds are distinguished. First, isotropic refractive index changes allow for inscribing waveguides [3, 4] that may serve to realize complex photonic networks [5, 6]. Second, a confined micro-explosion within the focal volume may leave a region devoid of any material [7, 8] that can be used for data storage [9] or microfluidic purposes [10]. Finally, one of the key findings of laser materials processing is the local inscription of strong birefringence due to a sub-wavelength grating structure within an otherwise isotropic host material [11, 12].

Handbook of Silicon Based MEMS Materials and Technologies, Third Edition is a comprehensive guide to MEMS materials, technologies, and manufacturing with a particular emphasis on silicon as the most important starting material used in MEMS. The book explains the fundamentals, properties (mechanical, electrostatic, optical, etc.), materials selection, preparation, modeling, manufacturing, processing, system integration, measurement, and materials characterization techniques of MEMS structures. The third edition of this book provides an important up-to-date overview of the current and emerging technologies in MEMS making it a key reference for MEMS professionals, engineers, and researchers alike, and at the same time an essential education material for undergraduate and graduate students. Provides comprehensive overview of leading-edge MEMS manufacturing technologies through the supply chain from silicon ingot growth to device fabrication and integration with sensor/actuator controlling circuits Explains the properties, manufacturing, processing, measuring and modeling methods of MEMS structures Reviews the current and future options for hermetic encapsulation and introduces how to utilize wafer level packaging and 3D integration technologies for package cost reduction and performance improvements Geared towards practical applications presenting several modern MEMS devices including inertial sensors, microphones, pressure sensors and micromirrors

This book offers a systematic overview of polymer joining and highlights the experimental and numerical work currently being pursued to devise possible strategies to overcome the technical issues. It also covers the fundamentals of polymers, the corresponding joining processes and related technologies. A chapter on the extrapolation of finite element analysis (FEA) for forecasting the deformation and temperature distribution during polymer joining is also included. Given its breadth of coverage, the book will be of great interest to researchers, engineers and practitioners whose work involves polymers.

Shortly after the demonstration of the first laser, the most intensely studied theoretical topics dealt with laser-matter interactions. Many experiments were undertaken to clarify the major ablation mechanisms. At the same time, numerous theoretical studies, both analytical and numerical, were proposed to describe these interactions. These studies paved the ways toward the development of numerous laser applications, ranging from laser micro- and nanomachining to material analysis, nanoparticle and nanostructure formation, thin-film deposition, etc. Recently, more and more promising novel fields of laser applications have appeared, including biomedicine, catalysis, photovoltaic cells, etc. This book intends to provide the reader with a comprehensive overview of the current state of the art in laser ablation, from its fundamental mechanisms to novel applications.