Femtosecond laser writing of glass, including borosilicate, sulfide, and lead glasses

US6573026B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• CORNING INCORPORATED · US

Inventors

• Bruce Gardiner Aitken · Corning, US
• Nicholas Francis Borrelli · Elmira, US
• David L. Morse · Tampa, US
• Alexander Mikhailovich Streltsov · Corning, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 28, 2000
• Grant date: Jun 3, 2003
• Expiry date: Mar 27, 2021

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10S430/146
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A method of writing a pattern, such as a waveguide, in a bulk glass substrate. The bulk glass substrate can be formed from, for example, borosilicate or sulfide or lead glass. A pulsed laser beam is focused within the substrate while the focus is translated relative to the substrate along a scan path at a scan speed effective to induce an increase in the refractive index of the material along the scan path. Substantially no laser induced physical damage of the material is incurred along the scan path. Various optical devices can be made using this method.