Wavelength division with three-dimensional couplers fabricated by filamentation of femtosecond laser pulses

Refractive-index changes can be induced by filamentation of 800-nm, 1-kHz femtosecond laser pulses in silica glass. Two-dimensional translation of a 40-microm-long filament leads to the formation of a curved waveguide because of bending by the previously induced refractive-index change. The fabrication of 2-mm directional couplers to split the coupled beam into 1:1 at a wavelength of 632.8 nm is demonstrated. The realization of three-dimensional directional couplers and wavelength division in the output from the couplers is also demonstrated.