Optical properties of waveguides written by a 26 MHz stretched cavity Ti:sapphire femtosecond oscillator

We report on the fabrication, by a 26 MHz stretched-cavity femtosecond Ti: sapphire oscillator, of optical waveguides in different glass substrates, and their optical characterization. Operation of these waveguides in the telecom range at 1.55 mum is demonstrated. Digital holography microscopy is used to measure their refractive index profile. The results evidence a strong dependence of the fabrication process on the glass matrix. (C) 2005 Optical Society of America.