Mode-locked diode laser-based two-photon polymerisation

• Published in: Electronics letters 2020-01, Vol.56 (2), p.91-93
• Main Authors: Surkamp, N, Zyla, G, Gurevich, E.L, Klehr, A, Knigge, A, Ostendorf, A, Hofmann, M.R
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 3D structure; direct laser writing; frequency 383.1 MHz; fundamental repetition rate; high‐speed optical techniques; integrated optics; laser mode locking; mode‐locked diode laser‐based two‐photon polymerisation; Nanotechnology; optical pulse compression; optical saturable absorption; optical waveguides; polymerisation; power 160.0 mW; segmented metallisation; semiconductor lasers; support cuboids; suspended lines; time 440.0 fs; two‐photon processes; ultrafast light source; ultrashort laser pulses; waveguide integrated saturable absorber
• ISSN: 0013-5194; 1350-911X; 1350-911X
• DOI: 10.1049/el.2019.2385

In this Letter, the authors present the construction of three-dimensional microstructures by two-photon polymerisation induced by ultrashort pulses of a mode-locked diode laser. The ultrafast light source is based on a diode laser with segmented metallisation to realise a waveguide integrated saturable absorber. It is subsequently amplified and compressed resulting in ultrashort laser pulses of 440 fs length and average output power of 160 mW at a fundamental repetition rate of 383.1 MHz. These pulses are coupled into a customised two-photon polymerisation setup. A series of suspended lines were fabricated between support cuboids for testing the process behaviour. A 3D structure with complex features was polymerised to demonstrate the high potential for mode-locked diode lasers in the field of direct laser writing.