Laser ablation and waveguide fabrication using CR39 polymer

• Polymer CR39 used as interaction under illumination at 248 nm pulse KrF laser.
• The polymeric waveguides are fabricated using UV-excimer laser at wavelength 244 nm CW laser.
• The refractive index profiles are investigated for planar polymeric waveguides.

We report on the ablation and fabrication of optical waveguide using allyl-diglycol CR39 polymer. Pulse nanosecond (ns) laser (248 nm KrF) and continuous wave (CW) (244 nm argon-ion) irradiation are performed to observe surface modification on the polymer and potentially utilize it for channel waveguide. The pulsed UV laser creates craters with different depth as fluence increases to quantify threshold fluence for this material. For continuous wave UV irradiation, refractive index value on the CR39 channels varied as fluence changed, and shows the potential use of this polymer in planar waveguide applications. An upper fluence limit where laser ablation commences is also determined.