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Novel Z polarizer benefits laser micromachining

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Ashley N. Paddock, [email protected]

VILNIUS, Lithuania – A new laser writing technique has been used to produce Z polarizers, or radial polarization converters, that can be used for laser machining, microscopy, optical tweezers and Raman spectroscopy systems.

Workshop of Photonics has collaborated with researchers at the Optoelectronics Research Centre at the University of Southampton in the UK to develop the direct laser writing technique. Z polarization gives a laser beam a smaller spot size and enables the same machining properties in all directions. The special configuration lambda plate can convert circular polarization to radial or azimuthal, or it can create an optical vortex of higher-level topological charge.

“Scientists at the University of Southampton discovered that it is possible to form controllable birefringent features inside of transparent materials,” said Evladas Pabreza, research and development sales architect at the workshop. They accomplish this using a femtosecond laser for direct laser writing.


A new radial polarization converter, formed at the center of a fused-silica substrate, holds promise for laser machining, microscopy, optical tweezers and Raman spectroscopy systems. Courtesy of Workshop of Photonics.



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The Workshop of Photonics and Optoelectronics Research Centre laboratories expect to prove the advantages of Z polarizers in laser micromachining, such as decreased spot size and uniformity of light-material interaction, regardless of machining direction.

“For the moment, we have shown just the first application of said direct laser writing technique – the radial polarization converter,” Pabreza said. “The ‘mystical’ radial (azimuthal) polarization still is not very well explored, since there was no affordable yet high-power resistant means for generating it.”

He said, however, that the laboratories are exploring two areas that could have significant impact: laser micromachining and fiber laser amplifiers. Future embodiments may lead to the design and production of multiple optical elements within a single piece of glass, which would contribute significantly to integrated optics.

Workshop of Photonics has begun looking for integrators and end users in the fields of laser machining, microscopy and optical tweezers. Testing units are now available, with small-scale production of the devices scheduled for mid-autumn. The university has applied for a patent application and has appointed Altechna R&D Ltd. as its exclusive commercialization partner.

Published: October 2011
Glossary
fused silica
Glass consisting of almost pure silicon dioxide (SiO2). Also called vitreous silica. Frequently used in optical fibers and windows.
integrated optics
A thin-film device containing miniature optical components connected via optical waveguides on a transparent dielectric substrate, whose lenses, detectors, filters, couplers and so forth perform operations analogous to those of integrated electronic circuits for switching, communications and logic.
optical tweezers
Optical tweezers refer to a scientific instrument that uses the pressure of laser light to trap and manipulate microscopic objects, such as particles or biological cells, in three dimensions. This technique relies on the momentum transfer of photons from the laser beam to the trapped objects, creating a stable trapping potential. Optical tweezers are widely used in physics, biology, and nanotechnology for studying and manipulating tiny structures at the microscale and nanoscale levels. Key...
polarization
Polarization refers to the orientation of oscillations in a transverse wave, such as light waves, radio waves, or other electromagnetic waves. In simpler terms, it describes the direction in which the electric field vector of a wave vibrates. Understanding polarization is important in various fields, including optics, telecommunications, and physics. Key points about polarization: Transverse waves: Polarization is a concept associated with transverse waves, where the oscillations occur...
raman spectroscopy
Raman spectroscopy is a technique used in analytical chemistry and physics to study vibrational, rotational, and other low-frequency modes in a system. Named after the Indian physicist Sir C.V. Raman who discovered the phenomenon in 1928, Raman spectroscopy provides information about molecular vibrations by measuring the inelastic scattering of monochromatic light. Here is a breakdown of the process: Incident light: A monochromatic (single wavelength) light, usually from a laser, is...
Altechna R&D Ltd.Euro NewsEuropeEvladas Pabrezafemtosecond lasersfiber laser amplifierfiber lasersfiber opticsfused silicaintegrated opticsLaser Beamlaser machininglaser writingLithuaniaMicroscopyNewsoptical tweezersOpticsOptoelectronics Research CentreORCpolarizationpolarization conversionradial polarization converterRaman spectroscopyspot sizeTest & MeasurementUniversity of SouthamptonWOPWorkshop of Photonicsz polarizerLasers

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