A three-dimensional polymeric optical circuit fabrication using a femtosecond laser-assisted self-written waveguide technique

We demonstrated a femtosecond pulse laser-assisted self-written waveguide technique that can fabricate three-dimensional (3D) optical waveguides in a photopolymerizing resin. A 488 nm Ar⁺ laser and an 800 nm pulse laser were used in this technique. Using the femtosecond laser scanning technique, two optical fibers were connected three dimensionally by a waveguide. The alignment-free aspect of the light-induced self-written waveguide-fabrication technique and the possibilities of 3D waveguide creation inherent in the femtosecond laser polymerization technique were combined to yield a highly versatile technique for the fabrication of 3D waveguides.