Laser-pulse-induced Bragg diffraction spectrum rearrangement in opal-VO2 composites

Abstract
The Bragg diffraction spectrum of a synthetic opal with pores filled by the vanadium dioxide semiconductor (VO2) was found to be strongly affected by 0.1-µs-long YAG:Nd laser first-harmonic pulses (1.06 µm). This effect is associated with a structural phase transition in the opal-VO2 composite, which is accompanied by a strong change in the VO2 permittivity.