Femtosecond laser assisted production of dichroitic 3D structures in composite glass containing Ag nanoparticles

Three-dimensional, permanent anisotropic modifications in glass containing spherical Ag nanoparticles are demonstrated using multicolor fs laser irradiation. The method can produce dichroism by deformation of nanoparticles to oblong shapes oriented parallel to the laser polarization. Using samples with a vertical gradient of the fill factor of Ag nanoparticles in the glass substrate and an accordingly inhomogeneous broadening of the surface plasmon band, modifications in various depths can be made using different excitation wavelengths. The induced modifications are reversible: heating to approximate to 600 degrees C restores the spherical shape of Ag nanoparticles. This technique could be used in manufacturing of different, 3D, polarization and wavelength selective micro-devices such as polarizers, filters, gratings, display and rewriting optical 3D data storage devices.