Efficient ultrafast laser writing with elliptical polarization

Photosensitivity in nature is commonly associated with stronger light absorption. It is also believed that artificial optical anisotropy to be the strongest when created by light with linear polarization. Contrary to intuition, ultrafast laser direct writing with elliptical polarization in silica glass, while nonlinear absorption is about 2.5 times weaker, results in form birefringence about twice that of linearly polarized light. Moreover, a larger concentration of anisotropic nanopores created by elliptically polarized light pulses is observed. The phenomenon is interpreted in terms of enhanced interaction of circularly polarized light with a network of randomly oriented bonds and hole polarons in silica glass, as well as efficient tunneling ionization produced by circular polarization. Applications to multiplexed optical data storage and birefringence patterning in silica glass are demonstrated.