Ti: Sapphire femtosecond lasers and an optical parametric oscillator have been used for the fabrication of photonic crystal structures in polymer materials and lithium niobate crystals. In order to apply advanced beam shaping techniques and new methods for the characterisation of the photonic crystals, new laser sources providing larger pulse energies and a tuning range that spans the whole visible and infrared regime where needed. For this purpose we have extended our femtosecond laser facilities with a regenerative amplifier system (Spectra Physics’ Spitfire) combined with an optical parametric amplifier (Spectra Physics'OPA-800C). By choosing Spectra Physics we were able to combine the new system with our already available femtosecond oscillators and pump sources.

Jesper Serbin adjusts the alignment for the femtosecond processing facility at Swinburne.