Direct-write gratings in chalcogenide bulk glasses and fibers using a femtosecond laser

Abstract We explored the possibility of using femtosecond laser pulses for fabricating gratings inside chalcogenide glasses. We demonstrate for the first time, to the best of our knowledge, gratings written inside bulk glasses and inside optical fibers using an 800 nm femtosecond laser. The fiber gratings are of great importance as they can be used as Bragg reflectors in the mid infrared region.