Control of the cross-sectional shape of a hollow microchannel embedded in photostructurable glass by use of a femtosecond laser.
Theoretical and experimental investigations have been made of the three-dimensional microchannel fabrication of photostructurable glass by use of a femtosecond (fs) laser. Generally, a microchannel fabricated inside glass by the scanning focal spot of a fs laser perpendicular to the direction of laser propagation assumes an elliptical shape with a cross section of large aspect ratio. We demonstrate that one can greatly reduce the aspect ratio merely by inserting a slit, which is oriented parallel to the laser's scanning direction, before the focusing lens. Computer simulations show that a more symmetrical pattern is obtained in the vicinity of the focal point with the help of such a slit, owing essentially to a diffraction effect.
Cheng
Ya
Y
RIKEN, The Institute of Physical and Chemical Research, Hirosawa 2-1, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan. ycheng@postman.riken.go.jp
Sugioka
Koji
K
Midorikawa
Katsumi
K
Masuda
Masashi
M
Toyoda
Koichi
K
Kawachi
Masako
M
Shihoyama
Kazuhiko
K