The manipulation of the optical properties of plasmonic nanocomposites is of high interest for the development of advanced optical devices with tailored unique properties. Achieving these objectives requires a combination of synthesis techniques and post-fabrication strategies. Here, we combine the use of two well-established physical strategies: MeV ion implantation and femtosecond laser processing. Firstly, we synthesize Au-doped soda lime glass nanocomposite through ion beam implantation (Au2+ at 1.8 MeV) followed by thermal annealing. This synthesis procedure results in a peculiar optical response based on the combination of Au-nanoparticle plasmonic resonance and a Fabry-Perot interference, caused by the deep implantation (centered at 480 nm). Secondly, this dual response is demonstrated to be highly tuneable by non-resonant femtosecond laser irradiation (800-nm wavelength and 130-fs pulse duration). Depending on the laser fluence, three transformation regimes are distinguished: supressing the interferometric response by spallative ablation, inducing vivid blue colors by surface swelling, and producing red-shifted color changes by multi-shot irradiation at low fluences. The proposed method is very versatile, since it is applicable to any dielectric matrix or implanted element. This work paves the way to a new route for the development of scalable and tuneable nanocomposites with several potential applications in optics.
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