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2024
ACL
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I.Ktafi, J.Kong, M.Cavillon, B.Poumellec, M.Yembele, R.Valois, M.Allix, G.-D.Peng, M.Lancry, 'A New Approach Toward Extreme Thermal Stability of Femtosecond Laser Induced Modifications in Glasses', Laser Photonics Rev n-a 2401086 (2024) doi:10.1002/lpor.202401086
Imprinting thermally stable transformations by femtosecond laser in glass
would benefit the development of optical sensors dedicated to harsh
environments including combustors, nuclear reactors, aircraft engines, or
metal/ceramic manufacturing processes. While glass brings undeniable
assets over refractory crystalline materials like shaping ability (e.g., optical
fiber form), one key challenge is to prevent the erasure of induced
transformations at high temperatures and for long periods. In this article, the
role of glass composition and viscosity to achieve modifications stable at high
temperatures is first reviewed, providing a comprehensive roadmap for
engineers in optics and photonics. While silica appears to be the candidate of
choice, it is revealed that binary aluminosilicates can compete and sometimes
surpass it. The hypothesis is formulated and investigated that a hybrid
glass-crystalline nano-structuring can imprint ultra-stable modifications inside
glass. Laser-induced modifications in Al2O3-SiO2 and ZrO2-Al2O3-SiO2
glasses reveal a partial crystallization, shaped into a lamellar structure and
orientable with laser light polarization. These birefringent structures can
withstand temperatures up to 1300 °C for 30 minutes. Even after erasure, a
positive index contrast persists, up to 1650 °C for binary 60Al2O3-40SiO2
(mol%). This is the first observation of this kind of persisting index contrast,
paving the way to ultra-stable glass-based optical waveguiding.
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