Optical waveguides writing in fused silica with a spatially shaped femtosecond laser

A new technique of optical waveguide fabrication has been developed, using femtosecond laser pulses. Tightly focused femtosecond pulses in the bulk of a transparent material induce a local index variation for well-adjusted energy levels. By translating the glass sample, waveguides are photoinduced in the bulk. In this paper the capability of control of the index profile through spatial beam shaping of the femtosecond laser beam, is investigated.