Laser fabrication of photorefractive Bragg reflectors, asymmetric waveguides, and void arrays in glass

Kazuyoshi Itoh; Wataru Watanabe; Yan Li; Kazuhiro Yamada; Junji Nishii

doi:10.1117/12.468111

20 November 2002 Laser fabrication of photorefractive Bragg reflectors, asymmetric waveguides and void arrays in glass

Kazuyoshi Itoh, Wataru Watanabe, Yan Li, Kazuhiro Yamada, Junji Nishii

Proceedings Volume 4803, Photorefractive Fiber and Crystal Devices: Materials, Optical Properties, and Applications VIII; (2002) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.468111
Event: International Symposium on Optical Science and Technology, 2002, Seattle, WA, United States

Abstract

We have been studying the refractive index changes and vacancies that are induced in silica glass by the irradiation of ultrashort laser pulses. By scanning the laser beam in the glass we can form 3-D shape of waveguides, arrays of tiny vacancies, called voids, and long holes with microscopic diameters. In this paper, we report on the asymmetry of the waveguide formed by linearly polarized ultrashort pulses. The formation of the photo-induced waveguide is normally accompanied by the filamentation, the self-trapping of laser beam due to nonlinear optical effects. The asymmetric cross-section of the waveguide structures explains properly the illusory birefringence of photo-induced waveguides observed earlier. The cross-sectional forms of the waveguides were observed by polishing and etching the cross-psections. We also report the possibility of forming asymmetric shapes of voids. The asymmetry of voids results from the beam profile. We controlled the profile by inserting apertures before the focusing lens. The asymmetry leads to the polarization dependence of diffraction from the array of voids. We also report on the formation of Bragg grating in glass. The Bragg gratings were formed in soda-lime glass. We succeeded in forming a series of three Bragg gratings. The formation of grating inside glass was confirmed by diffraction experiments and chemical etching of polished cross-sections.

Citation Download Citation

Kazuyoshi Itoh, Wataru Watanabe, Yan Li, Kazuhiro Yamada, and Junji Nishii "Laser fabrication of photorefractive Bragg reflectors, asymmetric waveguides and void arrays in glass", Proc. SPIE 4803, Photorefractive Fiber and Crystal Devices: Materials, Optical Properties, and Applications VIII, (20 November 2002); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.468111

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available