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Beat the diffraction limit in 3D direct laser writing in photosensitive glass

Matthieu BellecCentre de Physique Moléculaire Optique et Hertzienne, Université de Bordeaux, Talence, France. [email protected]Arnaud RoyonCentre de Physique Moléculaire Optique et Hertzienne, Université de Bordeaux, 351 cours de la Libération, 33405 Talence, FranceBruno BousquetCentre de Physique Moléculaire Optique et Hertzienne, Université de Bordeaux, 351 cours de la Libération, 33405 Talence, FranceKevin BourhisInstitut de Chimie de la Matière Condensée de Bordeaux, Université de Bordeaux, 87 avenue du Docteur Schweitzer, 33608 Pessac, FranceMona TréguerInstitut de Chimie de la Matière Condensée de Bordeaux, Université de Bordeaux, 87 avenue du Docteur Schweitzer, 33608 Pessac, FranceThierry CardinalInstitut de Chimie de la Matière Condensée de Bordeaux, Université de Bordeaux, 87 avenue du Docteur Schweitzer, 33608 Pessac, FranceMartin RichardsonCollege of Optics and Photonics, CREOL, University of Central Florida, 4000 Central Florida Boulevard, Orlando, Florida 32816 USALionel CanioniCentre de Physique Moléculaire Optique et Hertzienne, Université de Bordeaux, 351 cours de la Libération, 33405 Talence, France
2009en
ABI

Abstract

Three-dimensional (3D) femtosecond laser direct structuring in transparent materials is widely used for photonic applications. However, the structure size is limited by the optical diffraction. Here we report on a direct laser writing technique that produces subwavelength nanostructures independently of the experimental limiting factors. We demonstrate 3D nanostructures of arbitrary patterns with feature sizes down to 80 nm, less than one tenth of the laser processing wavelength. Its ease of implementation for novel nanostructuring, with its accompanying high precision will open new opportunities for the fabrication of nanostructures for plasmonic and photonic devices and for applications in metamaterials.

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