Mid-infrared astrophotonics: study of ultrafast laser induced index change in compatible materials
Date
2017-03-01
Authors
Arriola, A
Gross, S
Ams, M
Gretzinger, T
Le Coq, D
Wang, R. P
Ebendorff-Heidepriem, H
Sanghera, J
Bayya, S
Shaw, L. B
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Optical Society of America
Abstract
The mid-infrared wavelength regime 3:5 ō 4:1 m, known as the astronomical Lā
band is of special interest for exoplanet hunting. Mid-IR compatible photonic technologies are
an enabling platform for a range of critical observational science using compact instruments
on the next generation of Extremely Large Telescopes. Pupil remapping interferometry is a
technique in which subapertures of the telescope pupil (2D) are reformatted into a 1D linear
array. This can be done efficiently using 3D photonics. One of the most important techniques to
fabricate 3D photonic devices in glass is ultrafast laser inscription. However, common silicate
glasses are opaque above 2-2.2 m and therefore not useful for the fabrication of waveguides at
mid-infrared wavelengths. Here we present a study of mid-infrared transparent materials that are
compatible with the ultrafast laser inscription technique. This study will inform the development
of mid-infrared photonic devices for future exoplanetary discovery.
Description
Keywords
Glass waveguides, Infrared, Laser materials processing, Microstructure fabrication, Astronomical optics, Astronomy and astrophysics
Citation
Collections
Source
Optical Materials Express
Type
Journal article
Book Title
Entity type
Access Statement
Open Access
License Rights
Restricted until
2037-12-31