Open AccessCO_2 laser induced refractive index changes in optical polymers
Author(s) -
Qing Liu,
Kin Seng Chiang,
L. Reekie,
Y. T. Chow
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.20.000576
Subject(s) - materials science , refractive index , benzocyclobutene , laser , polymer , fourier transform infrared spectroscopy , optics , optoelectronics , infrared , photothermal therapy , waveguide , fourier transform spectroscopy , far infrared laser , epoxy , composite material , nanotechnology , physics
We study the infrared photosensitivity properties of two optical polymer materials, benzocyclobutene (BCB) and epoxy OPTOCAST 3505, with a 10.6 μm CO2 laser. We discover that the CO2 laser radiation can lower the refractive index of BCB by as much as 5.5 × 10(-3), while inducing no measurable index change in the epoxy. As confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, the observed index change in BCB can be attributed to photothermal modification of chemical bonds in the material by the CO2 laser radiation. Our findings open up a new possibility of processing polymer materials with a CO2 laser, which could be further developed for application in the areas of post-processing and direct-writing of polymer waveguide devices.