Waveguide fabrication in lfithium-niobo-phosphate glasses by high repetition rate femtosecond laser: route to non-equilibrium material’s states

We study waveguide fabrication in lithium-niobo-phosphate glass, aiming at a practical method of single-stage fabrication of nonlinear integrated-optics devices. We observed chemical transformations or material redistribution during the course of high repetition rate femtosecond laser inscription. We believe that the laser-induced ultrafast heating and cooling followed by elements diffusion on a microscopic scale opens the way toward the engineering non-equilibrium sates of matter and thus can further enhance Refractive Index (RI) contrasts by virtue of changing glass composition in and around the fs tracks. © 2014 Optical Society of America OCIS codes: (130.2755) Glass waveguides; (160.2750) Glass and other amorphous materials. References and links 1. H. Misawa and S. Juodkazis, eds., 3D Laser Microfabrication. Principles and Applications (Wiley-VCH, Weinheim, 2006). 2. R. Osellame, G. Cerullo, and R. 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