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New monolithic glass space-variant polarization converter

Abstract:
University of Southampton researchers have developed new nano-structured glass optical elements, which have applications in optical manipulation and will significantly reduce the cost of medical imaging.

New nanostructured glass for imaging and recording

Southampton, UK | Posted on August 15th, 2011

In a paper entitled Radially polarized optical vortex converter created by femtosecond laser nanostructuring of glass published in Applied Physics Letters, a team led by Professor Peter Kazansky at the University's Optoelectronics Research Centre, describe how they have used nano-structures to develop new monolithic glass space-variant polarization converters. These millimetre-sized devices generate ‘whirlpools' of light enabling: precise laser material processing, optical manipulation of atom-sized objects, ultra-high resolution imaging and potentially, table-top particle accelerators. They have since found that the technology can be developed further for optical recording.

According to the researchers, at sufficient intensities, ultra-short laser pulses can be used to imprint tiny dots (like 3D pixels) called voxels in glass. Their previous research showed that lasers with fixed polarization produce voxels consisting of a periodic arrangement of ultra-thin (tens of nanometers) planes. By passing polarized light through such a voxel imprinted in silica glass, the researchers observed that it travels differently depending on the polarization orientation of the light. This ‘form birefringence' phenomenon is the basis of their new polarization converter.

The advantage of this approach over existing methods for microscopy is that it is 20 times cheaper and it is compact.

"Before this we had to use a spatial light modulator based on liquid crystal which cost about Ł20,000," said Professor Peter Kazansky. "Instead we have just put a tiny device into the optical beam and we get the same result."

Since publication of the paper in May this year, the researchers have developed this technology further and adapted it for a five dimensional optical recording.

"We have improved the quality and fabrication time and we have developed this five dimensional memory which means that data can be stored on the glass and last forever," said Martynas Beresna, lead researcher for the project. "No one has ever done this before."

The researchers are working with the Lithuanian company Altechna to introduce this technology to the market.

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About University of Southampton
The University of Southampton is a leading UK teaching and research institution with a global reputation for research and scholarship across a wide range of subjects in engineering, science, social sciences, health, arts and humanities.

With over 22,000 students, around 5000 staff, and an annual turnover well in excess of Ł400 million, the University of Southampton is one of the country's top institutions for engineering, computer science and medicine. It combines academic excellence with an innovative and entrepreneurial approach to research, supporting a culture that engages and challenges students and staff in their pursuit of learning.

The University is also home to a number of world-leading research centres, including the Institute of Sound and Vibration Research, the Optoelectronics Research Centre, the Centre for the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease, the Southampton Statistical Sciences Research Institute and is a partner of the National Oceanography Centre at the Southampton waterfront campus.

About The Optoelectronics Research Centre

The Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC) is one of the world’s leading institutes for photonics research based at the University of Southampton. Over the last 40 years, the group has contributed significantly to the growth of the photonics industry.

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Contacts:
Helene Murphy
Media Relations Consultant to the University of Southampton
+44(0)20 8531 8000
+44(0)7944 847570

Martynas Beresna
Optoelectronics Research Centre
University of Southampton
Tel: 44 07930863262