Mechanisms Of Refractive Index Change Research Articles

Recent Achievements on Grating Fabrications in Polymer Optical Fibers with Photosensitive Dopants: A Review.

This review discusses recent achievements on grating fabrications in polymer optical fibers doped with photosensitive materials. First, different photosensitive dopants in polymer optical fibers (POFs) are summarized, and their refractive index change mechanisms are discussed. Then, several different doping methods to fabricate the photosensitive POFs are presented. Following that, the principles of gratings, including standard fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs), tilted fiber Bragg gratings (TFBGs), chirped fiber Bragg gratings (CFBGs), phase-shifted fiber Bragg gratings (PSFBGs), and long period fiber gratings (LPFGs), are reported. Finally, fabrications of different gratings based on photosensitive POFs in the last 20 years are reported. We present our article clearly and logically, so that it will be helpful for researchers to explore a broad perspective on this proposed topic. Overall, the content provides a comprehensive overview of photosensitive POF fabrications and grating inscriptions in photosensitive POFs, including previous breakthroughs and recent advancements.

Femtosecond laser writing low-loss waveguides in silica glass: highly symmetrical mode field and mechanism of refractive index change

Here, single-mode waveguides are written in silica glass by femtosecond (fs) laser. The waveguides exhibit a low propagation loss of 0.15 dB/cm and a symmetrical mode field. The loss performance and the mode field symmetry are demonstrated to strongly depend on the pulse repetition and polarization of fs laser, respectively. Raman and photoluminescence properties indicate that an increase of refractive index originates from an increment in the total density of glass networks consisting of small and large rings, but only increasing the number of small rings does not necessarily lead to an increase in refractive index. The long working distance of the objective lens promises to fabricate low-loss waveguides in a large depth of glass, which would inspire manufacturing integrated photonic devices by fs laser writing. Clarifying the mechanism of refractive index change offers a new perspective to understand the fs laser-matter interaction.

Femtosecond laser processing induced low loss waveguides in multicomponent glasses

We have investigated that femtosecond laser induced optical waveguides in AF32 and in Borofloat-33 glasses. Type-I positive and type-II negative refractive index change mechanisms were established in AF32 and in Borofloat-33 glass waveguides, respectively. Lowest propagation loss of 1.1 ± 0.31 dB/cm could be attained in AF32 glass, which has a typically higher index change than in Borofloat-33 glass. Resultant losses are directly correlated with densification and non-bridging oxygen hole centers, which can be authenticated by Raman and photoluminescence studies.

A review of the photo-thermal mechanism and crystallization of photo-thermo-refractive (PTR) glass

ABSTRACTPhoto-thermo-refractive (PTR) glass is an optically transparent photosensitive multicomponent silicate glass. UV-exposure produces silver nanoclusters, and NaF nanocrystals upon heating, giving rise to permanent refractive index changes. This is the basis for the production of Bragg gratings. In this article, we present a comprehensive overview of the photo-thermo-induced effects in PTR glass. We first give a general introduction of PTR glasses and their applications. Then, we perform a thorough analysis of the mechanisms of refractive index changes starting with the photo-induced process followed by the crystal nucleation mechanism and NaF crystallisation kinetics. Finally, we concentrate on the PTR glass nanostructure and its effect on the crystallisation mechanisms and properties, finishing with the kinetics and origin of the refractive index change. Despite the fact that much is known about this septuagenarian glass and that it is already being commercially produced, a number of open problems still exist that warrant further investigation.

Kinetics of the refractive index change in the core of active fibers, doped with Yb3+ and Er3+ ions, under pulsed optical pumping

The kinetics of refractive index change (RIC) in the core of Yb3+/Er3+ fibers at a radiation wave-length lying beyond the range of resonant absorption of active ions under pulsed pumping of fiber laser has been analyzed. The measurement of RIC kinetics with a Mach-Zehnder interferometer makes it possible to separate the contributions of the electronic and thermal RIC mechanisms and determine quantitatively the temperature profile inhomogeneity in the fiber. The measured values are compared with the numerical estimates derived from the spectral properties of the active medium in order to check the modern models of RIC in active fibers.

Different refractive index change behavior in borosilicate glasses induced by 1 kHz and 250 kHz femtosecond lasers

We report on different refractive index change (RIC) behavior in borosilicate glasses induced by focused 1 kHz and 250 kHz femtosecond (fs) laser irradiation. The influence of fs laser irradiation condition and annealing temperature on RIC was examined. Absorption, electron spin resonance and Raman spectra, and transmission electron microscope were used to clarify the mechanisms of the RIC. Smaller RIC (up to 10−4) was observed after 1 kHz fs laser irradiation, while larger RIC (up to 10−1) was detected after 250 kHz fs laser irradiation, which were ascribed to the formation of color centers and precipitation of nanocrystals, respectively. The result highlights that the mechanisms of RIC induced by fs laser can be very different depending on the irradiation conditions.

Refractive index change mechanisms in swift-heavy-ion-implanted Nd:YAG waveguide

A buried planar Nd:YAG waveguide has been fabricated by 20-MeV N-ion implantation. From Raman and optical characterization, it has been found that the refractive index has a larger increase when the crystal damage is heavier. According to our analysis, this crystal damage is caused by the electronic energy loss in the first several micrometers of irradiated regions, while nuclear energy loss also acts on the damage near the end of the ion range. This work is helpful to understand the mechanisms of swift-heavy-ion-implanted Nd:YAG waveguide formation.

Structural changes in BK7 glass upon exposure to femtosecond laser pulses

AbstractA general picture of refractive index change mechanisms in glass modified by a femtosecond laser has proven elusive. In this paper, Raman microscopy was used in conjunction with refractive near‐field profilometry to analyse the structure of borosilicate glass (Schott BK7) modified by a femtosecond laser and determine the mechanism of the observed refractive index change. For a pulse repetition rate of 1 kHz, it was determined that the refractive index change was due to an elevated population of non‐bridging oxygen atoms, resulting in more ionic bonds forming within the glass network and increasing the molar refractivity of the glass. For a pulse repetition rate of 5.1 MHz, the dominant mechanism of refractive index change was densification and rarefaction of the glass network. Different refractive index change mechanisms were attributed to different thermal conditions imparted to the glass under different pulse repetition rates. Implications for device fabrication are also discussed. These findings constitute an important step toward a complete overview of femtosecond‐laser‐induced refractive index change in glass. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Mechanism of femtosecond-laser induced refractive index change in phosphate glass under a low repetition-rate regime

Raman microscopy and refractive near-field profilometry were used to analyze waveguides written in Yb-doped Kigre QX glass under the low repetition-rate (noncumulative-heating) regime. It was found that femtosecond-laser induced refractive index change was due to an increase in the proportion of Q1 P-tetrahedra and the associated increase in the polarizability of the glass. The role of color center formation and removal in this process is clearly defined, phosphorous–oxygen hole centers (POHCs) and PO3− ions form as a result of P–O bonds being broken during the modification process, and the subsequent removal of POHCs give rise to the increased proportion of Q1 P-tetrahedra. This result, when compared to other studies undertaken in the cumulative-heating regime, show conclusively that the mechanism of refractive index change in a particular type of glass can be very different, depending on the irradiation conditions.

Electronic and thermal lensing in diode end-pumped Yb:YAG laser rods and discs

The lensing effects in diode end-pumped Yb:YAG laser rods and discs are studied. Two mechanisms of refractive-index changes are taken into account, thermal and electronic (due to the difference between the excited- and ground-state Yb3+ polarisabilities), as well as pump-induced deformation of the laser crystal. Under pulsed pumping, the electronic lensing effect prevails over the thermal one in both rods and discs. In rods pumped by a highly focused cw beam, the dioptric power of the electronic lens exceeds that of the thermal lens, whereas in discs steady-state lensing is predominantly due to the thermal mechanism.

Mechanisms of femtosecond laser-induced refractive index modification of poly(methyl methacrylate)

The mechanisms of refractive index change in poly(methyl methacrylate) by frequency doubled femtosecond laser pulses are investigated. It is demonstrated that positive refractive index modificaton can be caused by a combination of depolymerization and crosslinking.

Refractive index change mechanisms in femtosecond laser written ceramic Nd:YAG waveguides: micro-spectroscopy experiments and beam propagation calculations

The effect that femtosecond laser filamentation has on the refractive index of Nd:YAG ceramics, and which leads to the formation of waveguide lasers, has been studied by micro-spectroscopy imaging, beam propagation experiments and calculations. From the analysis of the Nd3+ luminescence and Raman images, two main types of laser induced modifications have been found to contribute to the refractive-index change: (i) a lattice defect contribution localized along the self-focusing volume of the laser pulses, in which lattice damage causes a refractive-index decrease, and (ii) a lattice strain-field contribution around and inside the filaments, in which the pressure-driven variation of the inter-atomic distances causes refractive-index variations. Scanning near-field optical-transmission and end-coupling experiments, in combination with beam propagation calculations, have been used to quantitatively determine the corresponding contribution of each effect to the refractive-index field of double-filament waveguides. Results indicate that the strain-field induced refractive-index increment is the main mechanism leading to waveguiding, whereas the damage-induced refractive-index reduction at filaments leads to a stronger mode confinement.

Theory and experiment of refractive index change of long-period fiber grating induced by CO2 laser pulses

The mechanism of refractive index change of long period fiber gratings （LPFGs） induced by high frequency CO2 laser pulses is investigated in theory and by experiment. It is found that the release of residual stress, rapid solidification, fiber densification and fusion distortion are discovered to be the main mechanisms of formation of this kind of gratings. The above four mechanisms play different roles when different fibers, different scanning methods and the different laser power were used in the process of LPFG fabrication. The average refractive index changes of the core and cladding were measured by using M-Z interferometer formed by LPFG pair in this paper, which provides the experimental basis for fabricating all-fiber devices.

Fabrication of internal diffraction gratings in calcium fluoride crystals by a focused femtosecond laser

We report the fabrication of internal diffraction gratings in calcium fluoride crystals by a focused near-IR 800 nm femtosecond laser. The diffraction efficiency and refractive index change were evaluated after femtosecond laser irradiation and subsequent annealing. The maximum refractive index change was estimated to be 3.57x10(-4). Optical absorption spectra, measured for the crystals before and after the laser irradiation and subsequent annealing, indicate that the absorbance increase after femtosecond laser irradiation and decrease with increasing annealing temperature. The mechanisms of refractive index change are proposed. The results may be useful for fabrication of three-dimensional integrated optics devices in the crystals.

Mechanism of refractive-index change in a Ce:SBN single crystal illuminated by nominal homogeneous light

We report a series of experiments demonstrating that the refractive index n(e) of a single crystal of Ce:SBN increases when the crystal is illuminated by a nominal homogeneous Ar laser beam. The increase is larger than that owing to the pure temperature rise, which is equal to that occurring in a Ce:SBN crystal illuminated by the same laser beam. We discovered that the difference between these Deltan(e)'s owing to the light and to the heat caused by this light is closely related to the crystal's history of illumination; the more it is illuminated, the less the difference is. Also, when the illumination exceeds the threshold volume for the first time, the refractive index will increase to be linear. We believe this to be the first report of these phenomena; we have introduced a theoretical explanation.