Tuning the refractive index in 3D direct laser writing lithography: towards GRIN microoptics

We report a study of the determination of polymer cross‐linking, namely the degree of conversion and refractive index of the microstructures created by two‐photon polymerization (TPP). The influence of TPP processing parameters such as laser intensity and scanning velocity is investigated. The degree of conversion is analyzed via Raman microspectroscopy and the refractive index is measured with the interferometric technique employing a Michelson interferometer. Moreover, the relationship between these two properties is revealed and details are discussed. The largest refractive index change that we have obtained is of the order of 10⁻². Finally, we propose and demonstrate experimentally the realization of the gradient‐index (GRIN) structure, resulting from a laser‐induced local refractive index modification due to monomer cross‐linking, i.e. degree of conversion. This work implies that the TPP technique is a valuable tool for the fabrication of GRIN microoptics for (in)homogeneous molding of light flow at the micrometer scale.

     

Rapid microfabrication of transparent materials using filamented femtosecond laser pulses

Microfabrication of transparent materials using femtosecond laser pulses has showed good potential towards industrial application. Maintaining pulse energies exceeding the critical self-focusing threshold by more than 100-fold produced filaments that were used for micromachining purposes. This article demonstrates two different micromachining techniques using femtosecond filaments generated in different transparent media (water and glass). The stated micromachining techniques are cutting and welding of transparent samples. In addition, cutting and drilling experiments were backed by theoretical modelling giving a deeper insight into the whole process. We demonstrate cut-out holes in soda-lime glass having thickness up to 1 mm and aspect ratios close to 20, moreover, the fabrication time is of the order of tens of seconds, in addition, grooves and holes were fabricated in hardened 1.1 mm thick glass (Corning $^\circledR$ Gorilla $^\circledR$ glass). Glass welding was made possible and welded samples were achieved after several seconds of laser fabrication.     

Diffraction grating fabrication in lithium niobate and KDP crystals with femtosecond laser pulses

We report studies of the modifications induced inside lithium niobate and KDP crystals by Yb:KGW ultrafast laser pulses, having 300-fs pulse duration and operating at 100-kHz repetition rate. By focusing the laser beam with a 0.42 numerical-aperture objective, we have recorded homogeneous volume Bragg gratings in the bulk of the niobate crystal that showed excellent diffraction efficiencies, reaching up to 87%, and remained permanent after thermal annealing for one hour at 150°C. The refractive index modification level was found to be 0.002 in lithium niobate. The results show that lithium niobate is a very promising crystal candidate for microphotonics applications. On the contrary, in the KDP crystal no smoothly modified refractive index zones were created.