Photostructurable photo-thermo-refractive glass

Abstract

Photostructurable properties of photo-thermo-refractive glass are discovered for the first time. The etching kinetics in HF solutions for virgin photo-thermo-refractive glass and glass ceramics are investigated. The etching rate of the glass ceramics is shown to be more than ten times higher than that of glass. Future prospects of applying the chemical etching technology for developing various PTR glass-based photonic and mechatronic elements are discussed.