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

Source

Optical Materials Express

Type

Journal article

Book Title

Entity type

Access Statement

Open Access

License Rights

Restricted until

2037-12-31