Designer Glasses—Future of Photonic Device Platforms

• Published in: Advanced functional materials 2022-01, Vol.32 (3), p.n/a
• Main Authors: Fernandez, Toney T., Gross, Simon, Privat, Karen, Johnston, Benjamin, Withford, Michael
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aluminum; Circular waveguides; Composition; Feed rate; Glass; ion migration; Materials science; Morphology; optical waveguides; photonic technologies; Refractivity; ultrafast laser inscription; Ultrafast lasers
• ISSN: 1616-301X; 1616-3028
• DOI: 10.1002/adfm.202103103

The intentional inclusion of key atomic elements in a purpose designed glass helps to achieve unprecedented control over the ultrafast laser written circular waveguide morphology and refractive index change. Behavioral response of glass constituents to ultrafast laser in 14 different commercial silicate glasses having various compositions are studied. Viscosity, aluminum to alkaline earth+alkali ratio, and total silicon content within the glass are the prime control factors for producing waveguides with high circularity and refractive index change. Drawing on this knowledge, the designer glass is successfully fabricated from an empirical formula that facilitates maintaining circular waveguide morphology, high refractive index over fast feed rates, and amorphous composition. Foreordained inclusion of key atomic elements in a purpose designed glass helps to achieve unprecedented control over the ultrafast laser written waveguide morphology and refractive index change. Viscosity, aluminium to alkaline earth+alkali ratio, and total silicon content within the glass are tuned to design waveguides with high circularity and refractive index change with superfast feed rates.