Femtosecond laser‐induced birefringent microdomains in sodium‐borate glass for highly secure data storage

Abstract

AbstractIn this paper, the inscription of polarization‐sensitive birefringent structures of two types by femtosecond laser pulses is described. Depending on the laser beam parameters, the orientation of the slow axis of birefringent structures can be either parallel or perpendicular to the polarization of the laser beam. The dependence of retardance and slow axis of birefringence on laser exposure parameters is revealed. The thermal stability of both types of structures is examined. The possibility of highly secure data storage based on the different thermal behavior of the laser‐modified region is demonstrated.