| What if optical fibers didn’t just guide light quietly, but could scatter it exactly where and how we want? This project explores that idea by using ultrafast lasers to induce nano structures inside optical fibers, turning scattering from an unwanted loss mechanism into a functional tool for applications such as sensing and controlled mode coupling. Using direct laser writing (DLW), we will inscribe nanostructures directly inside the core of single-mode and multimode silica fibers. By tuning laser parameters such as polarization, pulse energy, and writing conditions, we can precisely control the geometry and orientation of these structures. Instead of trial and error, the design will be guided by inverse design and computational electrodynamics, enabling us to identify nanograting shapes and orientations that produce targeted scattering responses. The optimized designs will then be fabricated and experimentally characterized to evaluate their scattering strength and mode-coupling behavior. |
