Enhanced medium-range order in vapor-deposited germania glasses at elevated temperatures

• DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abh1117
• Publication Date: 2021-09-10T17:55:34Z
• Authors: Le Yang; Gabriele Vajente; Mariana Fazio; Alena Ananyeva; GariLynn Billingsley; Ashot Markosyan; Riccardo Bassiri; Kiran Prasai; Martin M. Fejer; Martin Chicoine; François Schiette...; Carmen S. Menoni
• Keywords: Deposition; Atmospheric temperature range; Physical vapor deposition

Glasses are nonequilibrium solids with properties highly dependent on their method of preparation. In vapor-deposited molecular glasses, structural organization could be readily tuned deposition rate and substrate temperature. Here, we show that the atomic arrangement strong network-forming GeO2 glass is modified at medium range (<2 nm) through vapor elevated temperatures. Raman spectral signatures distinctively population six-membered GeO4 rings increases Deposition near transition temperature more efficient than postgrowth annealing in modifying structure range. The enhanced medium-range correlates reduction room internal friction. Identifying microscopic origin friction amorphous oxides paramount to design next-generation interference coatings for mirrors end test masses gravitational wave interferometers, which a main source noise limiting sensitivity.