Laser printing of active optical microstructures

Optically activated indium oxide diffractive optical microstructures are de monstrated through a two step laser based fabrication method. Nonstoichiome tric indium oxide thin film material grown by reactive pulsed laser deposit ion has been selectively transferred onto glass substrates by ultrashort pu lse laser microprinting to form surface relief microstructures. Subsequent ultraviolet illumination has induced dynamic refractive index changes, whic h result in all optical control of the grating diffraction efficiency. The direct materials transfer process enables reproduction of the structural an d physical properties of the oxide. (C) 2001 American Institute of Physics.