Structures induced in polysilane and thin polysilane layer coated polymer films by irradiation of femto-second laser pulse

We investigated the structures induced in polysilane and polysilane coated thermoplastic bis-phenol A type epoxy (Epoxy) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) films by irradiation of near-infrared (NIR) femto-second laser pulse. Long stripe-shaped structures with approximately 200–400 μm length was induced in polysilane bulk. Thin polysilane layer coated Epoxy and PMMA films showed photo-sensitive effect on the formation of stripe-shaped structures in PMMA and Epoxy, whereas no structures were induced in uncoated PMMA and Epoxy films. An ensemble of stripe-shaped structures worked as a diffraction grating. This photo-sensitive effect has potential application to grating structures in optical polymeric fiber (OPF).