Open AccessUltrafast laser photoinscription of polarization sensitive devices in bulk silica glass
Author(s) -
Guanghua Cheng,
Konstantin Mishchik,
Cyril Mauclair,
Éric Audouard,
Razvan Stoian
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.17.009515
Subject(s) - materials science , optics , birefringence , femtosecond , laser , polarization (electrochemistry) , ultrashort pulse , anisotropy , scattering , optoelectronics , light scattering , physics , chemistry
Ultrashort pulsed laser irradiation of bulk fused silica may result under specific energetic conditions in the self-organization of subwavelength material redistribution regions within the laser trace. The modulated structures have birefringent properties and show unusual anisotropic light scattering and reflection characteristics. We report here on the formation of waveguiding structures with remarkable polarization effects for infrared light. The photoinscription process using 800 nm femtosecond laser pulses is accompanied by third harmonic generation and polarization dependent anisotropic scattering of UV photons. The photowritten structures can be arranged in three-dimensional patterns generating complex propagation and polarization effects due to the anisotropic optical properties.