Recent advances in femtosecond laser direct writing of integrated optical elements

Beresna, Martynas and Kazansky, Peter G. (2010) Recent advances in femtosecond laser direct writing of integrated optical elements. WE-Heraeus Seminar on Quantum Communication Based on Integrated Optics, Bad Honnef am Rhein, Germany. 22 - 25 Mar 2010.

Abstract

Ultrafast-laser materials processing, including modification of transparent matter, has become an attractive and rapidly developing area of research with applications from integrated optics to laser surgery. Interaction of femtosecond light pulses with matter is not yet fully understood and can lead to unexpected findings. For instance, formation of self-assembled nanogratings was observed inside fused silica glass when irradiated with ultrafast-laser. This type of modification enables controlling anisotropic structures inside isotropic glass medium and can be applied for polarization control devices.

Another intriguing effect is quill like behaviour of femtosecond laser beam with tilted intensity front. The effect manifests as the difference in material modification when moving a sample from left to right and vice versa. Recently, it was demonstrated that pulse front tilt can be responsible not only for directional dependence but also for anisotropic photosensitivity of isotropic medium. It was shown that pulse front tilt can be used as a new tool for laser processing and optical manipulation.

In the nearest future we will seek for the applications of the observed effects in biology and quantum optics.

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