FEMTOSECOND LASER WRITING OF GLASS, INCLUDING BOROSILICATE, SULFIDE, AND LEAD GLASSES

摘要

A method of writing a pattern, such as a waveguide, in a bulk glass substrate (4). The bulk glass substrate (4) can be formed from, for example, borosilicate or sulfide or lead glass. A pulsed laser (1) is focused (3) within the substrate (4) while the focus (3) is translated relative to the substrate along a scan path (6, 7 and 8) at a scan speed effective to induce an increase in the refractive index of the material along the scan path. Substantially no laser induced physical damage of the material is incurred along the scan path. Various optical devices can be made using this method.