On the use of femtosecond lasers to fabricate small optical instrumentsmade from fused silica monoliths

We present some small optical instruments fabricated with femtosecond laser pulses. These instruments, made from monolithic fused silica substrates, incorporate an extensive collection of optical and micro-mechanical elements. A single manufacturing step was used to define both the optical and the mechanical features. This approach dramatically simplifies overall fabrication and eliminates alignment issues associated with sequential fabrication processes. Potential applications and technical challenges are reviewed