Femtosecond laser inscription of optical waveguides in bismuth ion doped glass

We report on the fabrication of high quality embedded channel waveguides inside Bi-doped silicate glass using femtosecond waveguide inscription. Waveguides are fabricated using both single and multi-scan fabrication techniques. Refractive index modifications of up to Delta n = 4.3 x 10(-3) are observed, allowing the fabrication of waveguides nearly mode-matched to telecom fibers. When optically pumped at 980 and 810 nm broadband fluorescence emission centered at 1.3 mu m with a FWHM of up to 500 nm is detected. (c) 2006 Optical Society of America.