Multiphoton-induced polymerization in the fabrication of optical waveguides in polydimethylsiloxane

Ye Pu; Giulia Panusa; Demetri Psaltis

doi:10.1117/12.2597490

11 August 2021 Multiphoton-induced polymerization in the fabrication of optical waveguides in polydimethylsiloxane

Ye Pu, Giulia Panusa, Demetri Psaltis

Proceedings Volume 11825, Ultrafast Nonlinear Imaging and Spectroscopy IX; 118250Y (2021) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2597490
Event: SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, 2021, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Owing to its many outstanding properties, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) has been an important engineering elastomer. An integration of compact, low-loss, three-dimensional (3D) optical waveguides with fluidic functionalities will greatly enhance the capabilities of PDMS-based devices and enable heretofore unimaginable applications. Recently, we have demonstrated the fabrication of compact polymer waveguides in PDMS through multiphoton laser direct writing both with and without a photoinitiator. While the photoinitiator-free process enjoyed a high refractive index contrast and a very low optical loss, it was subject to excessive defects due to material damage during the high-intensity optical irradiation. Our process using a photoinitiator achieved a defect-free fabrication despite a lower refractive index contrast and a higher loss. We show that the defects are a result of uncontrolled optical beam collapse through self-focusing and discuss potential solutions to mitigate the defects.

Conference Presentation

Citation Download Citation

Ye Pu, Giulia Panusa, and Demetri Psaltis "Multiphoton-induced polymerization in the fabrication of optical waveguides in polydimethylsiloxane", Proc. SPIE 11825, Ultrafast Nonlinear Imaging and Spectroscopy IX, 118250Y (11 August 2021); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2597490

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