Eli Simova

Polarization-selective etching in femtosecond laser-assisted microfluidic channel fabrication in fused silica.

We fabricate microchannels in fused silica by femtosecond laser irradiation followed by etching in diluted hydrofluoric acid. We show a dramatic dependence of the etch rate on the laser polarization, spanning 2 orders of magnitude. We establish the existence of an energy-per-pulse threshold at which etching of the laser-modified zones becomes highly polarization selective. The enhanced selective etching is due to long-range, periodic, polarization-dependent nanostructures formed in the laser-modified material.

Pulse duration dependence of femtosecond-laser-fabricated nanogratings in fused silica

Femtosecond laser radiation tightly focused in bulk fused silica is used to generate self-ordered nanogratings when the sample is translated under the lens at constant speed. The nanogratings are preserved over a length scale of millimeters. We demonstrate that nanogratings are formed for all pulse durations tested, ranging from 40to500fs, and that the pulse energy threshold for this phenomenon increases with decreasing pulse duration. We use high spatial resolution diagnostics based upon selective chemical etching followed by atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy to reveal the morphology of the nanogratings.

Femtosecond laser-induced refractive index modification in multicomponent glasses

We present a comprehensive study on femtosecond laser-induced refractive index modification in a wide variety of multicomponent glasses grouped as borosilicate, aluminum–silicate, and heavy-metal oxide glasses along with lanthanum–borate and sodium–phosphate glasses. By using high-spatial resolution refractive index profiling techniques, we demonstrate that under a wide range of writing conditions the refractive index modification in multicomponent glasses can be positive, negative, or nonuniform, and exhibits a strong dependence on the glass composition. With the exception of some aluminum–silicate glasses all other glasses exhibited a negative/nonuniform index change. We also demonstrate direct writing of waveguides in photosensitive Foturan® glass with a femtosecond laser without initiating crystallization by thermal treatment. Upon ceramization of lithium–aluminum–silicate glasses such as Foturan®, Zerodur®, and Robax® we observe switching of laser-induced refractive index change from being positive t...

High-resolution study of photoinduced modification in fused silica produced by a tightly focused femtosecond laser beam in the presence of aberrations

An ultrahigh-resolution (20nm) technique of selective chemical etching and atomic force microscopy has been used to study the photoinduced modification in fused silica produced at various depths by tightly focused femtosecond laser radiation affected by spherical aberration. We demonstrate that shapes of the irradiated zones near the threshold for modification can be predicted by taking proper account of spherical aberration caused by the refractive index mismatched air–silica interface. We establish a depth dependence of the pulse energy required to initiate modification and characterize the relationship between numerical aperture of the writing lens and practically achievable writing depth. We also show that spatial characteristics of the laser-modified zones can be controlled by a specially designed focusing system which allows correction for a variable amount of spherical aberration.

Stress in femtosecond-laser-written waveguides in fused silica.

We identify two states of stress induced in waveguides fabricated by femtosecond lasers in fused silica and show how they can be relieved by annealing. In-plane stress and stress concentration are revealed through birefringence and loss measurements. Another kind of laser-induced stress appears in the form of swelling of the glass surface when waveguides are written near the surface and is a manifestation of confined rapid material quenching. By annealing the sample we reduce the losses by approximately 30% (at 633 nm) and decrease the birefringence by a factor of 4 in fused silica.

Ultra-high resolution index of refraction profiles of femtosecond laser modified silica structures

Ultra-high spatial resolution index of refraction profiles of femtosecond laser modified structures in silica glass have been measured using the combination of chemical etching and atomic force microscopy.

Femtosecond laser erasing and rewriting of self-organized planar nanocracks in fused silica glass

Tightly focused, linearly polarized, femtosecond laser radiation can produce highly birefringent nanograting structures inside fused silica glass. Here we report that when the polarization direction of the femtosecond light is changed, old nanogratings are erased and simultaneously replaced with new ones whose orientation is solely determined by the polarization of the rewrite beam. We also show that these volume nanogratings can be rewritten 1000 times with little degradation in their quality.

A comparison of wavelength dependent polarization dependent loss measurements in fiber gratings

We have measured wavelength dependent Polarization Dependent Loss (PDL) in chirped fiber Bragg gratings for dispersion compensation, grating filters for wavelength add/drop multiplexing and long period gratings for EDFA gain flattening. The PDL is measured in devices used in reflection and in transmission by applying the Jones matrix method, the Mueller matrix method and the polarization scanning method. A comparison of the experimental results and an analysis of the sources of errors are presented.

Femtosecond laser fabrication of nanostructures in silica glass.

A femtosecond laser beam focused inside fused silica and other glasses can modify the refractive index of the glass. Chemical etching and atomic-force microscope studies show that the modified region can have a sharp-tipped cone-shaped structure with a tip diameter as small as 100 nm. Placing the structure near the bottom surface of a silica glass sample and applying a selective chemical etch to the bottom surface produces clean, circular, submicrometer-diameter holes. Holes spaced as close to one another as 1.4 microm are demonstrated.

Transient nanoplasmonics inside dielectrics

Intense ultrashort light pulses interacting inside dielectrics can create nanoplasmas due to localized inhomogeneous nonlinear ionization. These nanoplasmas are bound inside the dielectric and are transient as their density changes during the light pulse—from underdense to quasi-metallic plasma densities. Interaction of light at the transient plasma–dielectric interface can lead to local field enhancements, similar to that observed in the metal-dielectric interface, which control the growth of nanoplasmas. We discuss the differences in the interaction of light at these two interfaces and demonstrate that transient nanoplasmonics can imprint periodic nanostructures inside the dielectric.