Laser fabrication of nonlinear and metallic photonic nanostructures

The paper presents the investigations into the fabrication of photonic structures by direct laser-writing and nanoimprint lithography using organic-inorganic hybrid materials that have: (i) nonlinear optical properties and (ii) can be selectively covered with metal. Direct laser-writing by two-photon polymerization (2PP) allows the fabrication of three-dimensional (3D) structures with a resolution beyond the diffraction limit. The polymerization process is initiated when the beam of an ultra-fast infrared laser is tightly focused into the volume of a transparent, photosensitive material. The technique has been employed successfully in the fabrication of nanophotonic structures and devices.