Optical properties of a fs laser-created sphere inside a CYTOP fiber by Mueller polarimetry

Abstract

Optical elements embedded in an optical fiber can be used to shape and modulate the light transmitted within. We consistently observe, via Mueller polarimetry, that the optical properties of a femtosecond (fs) laser-created spherical cavity within a perfluorinated fiber exhibit predictable patterns. Specifically, linear birefringence is always induced at the periphery of the cavity, with its value showing a bell-shape distribution. The peak value of LB showed an increase correlating with the laser fluence and power, but its FWHM remains unchanged. Furthermore, it is important to highlight that when the cavity is disrupted, forming a channel to the fiber’s surface, a negative LB is observed at the cavity’s periphery, with a value reaching up to −0.4 rad. These optical phenomena may pique the interest of engineering and technical fields, potentially inspiring innovative approaches in optical fiber technology and its associated applications.