Small Equipment Grant: Three Dimensional Translation Stage for Femtosecond Laser Irradiation of Polymers

该提案要求一个3-D平移阶段，以便于研究利用可调谐飞秒(FS)激光照射未掺杂的聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯(PMMA)表面下的3-D写入折射率结构。其目的是：(1)通过使用全息光学来最小化特征尺寸；最小化所使用的写入波长(最小到240 nm)。(2)通过适当选择写入波长(240-1200 nm)、写入速度、激光通量和重写次数来最大化折射率调制。(3)利用分析技术研究光化学。(4)探索直接和间接制造聚合物微结构的双光子光刻技术。该提案是多学科的；利用曼彻斯特大学在光波导/光纤仪器、聚合物和分析化学方面的专业知识，获得由联合利华(太阳港)提供的飞秒激光器和博士生学位，以及由卢瑟福·阿普尔顿激光贷款池基金提供的飞秒贷款池激光器。

The proposal requests a 3-D translation stage to facilitate investigation of 3-D writing of refractive index structures beneath the surface of un-doped poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) using tuneable femtosecond (fs) laser irradiation. The aim is to: (1) Minimise feature size by using holographic optics; minimising the writing wavelength used (down to 240nm). (2) Maximise the refractive index modulation by appropriate choice of writing wavelength (240-1200nm) and velocity, laser fluence and number of overwrites. (3) Investigate photochemistry using analytical techniques.(4) Explore two-photon stereolithography for direct and indirect fabrication of polymer microstructures. The proposal is multidisciplinary; exploiting expertise in optical waveguide/fibre instrumentation, polymer and analytical chemistry at the University of Manchester, access to a femtosecond laser and a PhD studentship supplied by Unilever (Port Sunlight) and a femtosecond loan pool laser supplied by Rutherford Appleton Laser Loan Pool Facility.