Non-equilibrium viscoelastic behavior of chalcogenide glass fibers

Abstract

International audienceViscoelastic behavior of chalcogenide glasses have been investigated far below their glass transition temperatures. We show here the experimental method to measure properly a non-equilibrium viscosity in this situation and all other viscoelastic components. Additionally, chalcogenide glasses are photosensitive: their structural relaxation, their viscosity and viscoelastic behavior are drastically impacted by even weak light exposure. It induces a metastable new equilibrium stabilizing the viscoelastic properties, and gives rise to new specific viscoelastic processes