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  • Tailored surface birefringence by femtosecond laser assisted wet etching.

Tailored surface birefringence by femtosecond laser assisted wet etching.

Optics express (2015-04-04)
Rokas Drevinskas, Mindaugas Gecevičius, Martynas Beresna, Yves Bellouard, Peter G Kazansky
ABSTRACT

Surface texturing is demonstrated by the combination of wet etching and ultrafast laser nanostructuring of silica glass. Using potassium hydroxide (KOH) at room temperature as an etchant of laser modified glass, we show the polarization dependent linear increase in retardance reaching a threefold value within 25 hours. The dispersion control of birefringence by the etching procedure led to achromatic behaviour over the entire visible spectral range. The mechanism of enhanced KOH etching selectivity after femtosecond laser exposure is discussed and correlated to the formation of various laser-induced defects, such as silicon-rich oxygen deficiency and color centers.

MATERIALS
Product Number
Brand
Product Description

Sigma-Aldrich
Potassium hydroxide, pellets, reag. Ph. Eur., ≥85%
Sigma-Aldrich
Potassium hydroxide, technical, ≥85%, powder
Sigma-Aldrich
Potassium hydroxide, free-flowing, Redi-Dri, ACS reagent, ≥85%, pellets
Sigma-Aldrich
Potassium hydroxide, ACS reagent, ≥85%, pellets
Sigma-Aldrich
Potassium hydroxide, puriss. p.a., ≥86% (T), pellets
Sigma-Aldrich
Potassium hydroxide, reagent grade, 90%, flakes
Sigma-Aldrich
Potassium hydroxide, puriss., meets analytical specification of Ph. Eur., BP, 85-100.5%, pellets