Testing a novel μ-Raman method to retrieve refractive index and density field from femtosecond laser-written optical waveguides

In this work, we analysed the refractive index field and other local material properties of femtosecond laser-written waveguides properly combining a novel and direct Raman strategy, waveguides coupling and instrumented nano-indentation. At first, we measured a 2D Raman map within the cross section of femtosecond laser-written waveguides. Then, the Raman Phonon Deformation Constants of lithium niobate were employed to retrieve the strain and density variation from the A1(TO) phonon shifts in the analysed region. We test the results obtained with different combinations of phonons by computing the numerical guided modes and comparing them with those experimentally measured. As a relevant finding, we found that the combination of the A1(TO)1 and A1(TO)4 phonon shifting is the most proper one to compute strain, density and refractive index variation, almost in this kind of waveguide. Finally, a linear path across waveguides cross section was explored with instrumented nano-indentation and the expected variation of local density was detected through a softening of the elastic module observed in the region directly modified by the ultra-fast laser.