Self-written tapers and waveguides in bulk compound glass

Summary form only given. We have demonstrated the first self-written tapers in bulk glass. We have also performed numerical simulations of this process, which gives us a deeper understanding of the dynamics of this process. Although in this early work only Gaussian writing beams are considered, theoretical work shows that the shape of the resulting waveguide can be tailored via the writing beam. This three-dimensional bulk geometry should enable greater flexibility for creating complicated waveguide structures.