Influence of bandgap and polarization on photo-ionization: Guidelines for ultrafast laser inscription [Invited]

Douglas J. Little*, Martin Ams, Michael J. Withford

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

17 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

An ultrafast laser was used to fabricate waveguides in Yb:QX phosphate glass and BK7 borosilicate glass using linearly polarized and circularly polarized beams. Circularly polarized pulses were found to induce a higher refractive index change in Yb:QX phosphate glass, while in BK7 borosilicate glass circularly and linearly polarized pulses were found to induce the same refractive index change. An explanation for these contrasting results is proposed based on the fundamental polarization-dependence of photo-ionization. This explanation reconciles observations made in this study and also in a previous study in fused silica glass.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)670-677
Number of pages8
JournalOptical Materials Express
Volume1
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Aug 2011

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