Role of ion migrations in ultrafast laser written tellurite glass waveguides

We report on a strong cross migration of ions in a Tellurite (Te) based glass to form waveguides using a high repetition rate femtosecond laser. The tellurite glass matrix was modified using oxides of P, Na and Zn elements of which Te and Na ions play an important role to form waveguides upon laser irradiation. Tellurium was observed to migrate causing a positive index change zone whereas sodium cross migrates to the tellurium deficient zone forming a relatively low index change region. We have used micro-Raman analysis to scan across the waveguide cross-section to understand the state of the glass network and the relation between ion migration and glass densification for waveguiding. We have found that there is an increase in TeO3 units and reduction of TeO4 units in the Te rich zones enabling densification. This work will help guide the new commercial glass manufacturing industries that aim at producing mid-infrared transparent glasses like tellurite, tellurides and chalcogenides for the production of waveguide based devices. (C) 2014 Optical Society of America