Abstract

We report ultrafast laser inscription of nanogratings possessing form birefringence in binary sodium germanate glasses in a wide range of ${\mathrm{Na}}_2\mathrm{O}$ content from 3 to 22 mol.%. A minimal number of laser pulses required to induce noticeable form birefringence is shown to grow exponentially with ${\mathrm{Na}}_2\mathrm{O}$ content in glass. Atomic force microscopy showed similarity of their periodical structure and period value to those in the nanogratings formed in fused silica. A sharp pulse duration threshold below which laser pulses do not induce nanogratings in the studied glasses has been revealed. Formation of a nanograting in $22{\mathrm{Na}}_2\mathrm{O}·78{\mathrm{GeO}}_2$ at the studied conditions is accompanied by crystallization of a surrounding submicron layer and partial crystallization inside the nanograting with precipitation of ${\mathrm{Na}}_2{\mathrm{Ge}}_4{\mathrm{O}}_9$ crystals.

© 2019 Optical Society of America

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