Applications of femtosecond laser induced self-organized planar nanocracks inside fused silica glass

• Published in: Laser & photonics reviews 2008-04, Vol.2 (1-2), p.26-46
• Main Authors: Taylor, R., Hnatovsky, C., Simova, E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied fluid mechanics; Biological and medical applications; Exact sciences and technology; Femtosecond; femtosecond laser micromachining; femtosecond laser micromachining; rewritable optical data storage; microfluidics; nanocracks; nanogratings; self‐organized nanostructures; fused silica; Fluid dynamics; Fluidics; Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); Fused silica; Glass; Holographic recording materials; optical storage media; Industrial applications; Lasers; microfluidics; Nanocomposites; nanocracks; nanogratings; Nanomaterials; Nanostructure; Nonlinear optics; Optical materials; Optics; Photonics; Physics; rewritable optical data storage; self-organized nanostructures; Ultrafast processes; optical pulse generation and pulse compression
• ISSN: 1863-8880; 1863-8899
• DOI: 10.1002/lpor.200710031

We review our recent experimental efforts towards developing photonic and biophotonic applications of femtosecond laser induced self‐organized planar nanocracks inside fused silica glass. Our results show that sub‐diffraction limited, periodic, planar cracks can be produced, organized, erased and rewritten and basically controlled inside fused silica glass where they can be diagnosed optically using form birefringence. The high degree of control over these self‐replicated periodic structures allows us to investigate applications in micro‐ and nanofluidics, porous capillaries for biofiltering and rewritable data storage for harsh environments. We review our recent experimental efforts towards developing photonic and biophotonic applications of femtosecond laser induced self‐organized planar nanocracks inside fused silica glass. Our results show that sub‐diffraction limited, periodic, planar cracks can be produced, organized, erased and rewritten and basically controlled inside fused silica glass where they can be diagnosed optically using form birefringence. The high degree of control over these self‐replicated periodic structures allows us to investigate applications in micro‐ and nanofluidics, porous capillaries for biofiltering and rewritable data storage for harsh environments. Optical birefringence measurement of a grating voxel.