Three-dimensional mid-infrared photonic circuits in chalcogenide glass.
We report the fabrication of single-mode buried channel waveguides for the whole mid-IR transparency range of chalcogenide sulphide glasses (λ ≤ 11 μm), by means of direct laser writing. We have explored the potential of this technology by fabricating a prototype three-dimensional three-beam combiner for future application in stellar interferometry that delivers a monochromatic interference visibility of 99.89% at 10.6 μm and an ultrahigh bandwidth (3-11 μm) interference visibility of 21.3%. These results demonstrate that it is possible to harness the whole transparency range offered by chalcogenide glasses on a single on-chip instrument by means of direct laser writing, a finding that may be of key significance in future technologies such as astrophotonics and biochemical sensing.
Scottish Universities Physics Alliance (SUPA), School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh, United Kingdom. arodenas@gmail.com
Airán
A
Ródenas
Guillermo
G
Martin
Brahim
B
Arezki
Nickolas
N
Psaila
Gin
G
Jose
Animesh
A
Jha
Lucas
L
Labadie
Pierre
P
Kern
Ajoy
A
Kar
Robert
R
Thomson
D018011:Chalcogens / Q000737:chemistry*; D005898:Glass / Q000737:chemistry*; D007259:Infrared Rays; D017785:Photons; D013440:Sulfides / Q000737:chemistry
D018011:Chalcogens; D013440:Sulfides