Laser-written integrated photonics in glass-ceramics Zerodur

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates femtosecond laser direct-writing of waveguides and couplers in Zerodur glass-ceramics, achieving low propagation loss and enabling potential applications in space, quantum tech, and physics.

Contribution

It introduces a novel fabrication method for integrated photonics in Zerodur, a material previously challenging for such applications.

Findings

Waveguide propagation loss of ≤1.5 dB/cm achieved

Successful fabrication of directional couplers in Zerodur

Potential for Zerodur in advanced photonic applications

Abstract

We demonstrated fabrication of waveguide and directional coupler in bulk glass-ceramics Zerodur, through femtosecond laser direct-writing. Waveguide propagation loss of no more than 1.5 dB/cm was achieved. We expect this will lead to the deployment of Zerodur integrated photonics in fields like space-borne astronomy, quantum technology and fundamental physics, for both economic and technical benefits.