In-volume waveguides by femtosecond laser double pulses in glass materials

Direct writing with focused laser radiation in transparent materials is a remarkable tool for a wide range of products in optical technologies. Optical properties like the refractive index of transparent materials are changed locally with the laser direct writing technique in a very precise way. By increasing the refractive index in the volume of glass materials beam guiding components like waveguides are realizable. Waveguide lasers are producible by writing waveguides in laser active materials. Such passive and active components may be applied in different fields of optical technologies like diagnostic and optical systems in medicine, illumination, therapy or cosmetics. In this paper localized refractive index changes in glass are created by focused ultrashort laser pulses.