Abstract

In recent years, the use of focused femtosecond laser pulses to direct-write three-dimensional arrays of waveguides, couplers and other devices within the bulk of glass has become increasingly prevalent.^1,2 The study of the physical damage created by such lasers has also begun to be investigated with properties such as anomalous anisotropic light scattering, ³ and uniaxial birefringence, ⁴ being observed in irradiated samples. At present, the microscopic processes underlying such anisotropies remain unclear.

© 2002 Optical Society of America