Phys.org  May 15, 2024 Integration of functional materials and structures on the tips of optical fibers has enabled various applications in micro-optics. 3D printing technology holds promise for fabricating advanced micro-optical structures on fiber tips. Material selection has been limited to organic polymer-based photoresists because existing methods for 3D direct laser writing of inorganic materials involve high-temperature processing that is not compatible with optical fibers. Researchers in Sweden demonstrated 3D direct laser writing of inorganic glass with a subwavelength resolution on optical fiber tips. They showed two distinct printing modes that enabled the printing of solid silica glass structures “Uniform […]