Study of femtosecond laser induced circular optical properties by Mueller matrix spectropolarimetry

Transmission Mueller-matrix spectroscopic ellipsometry is applied to femtosecond laser induced modifications in silica glass in the spectral range 450–1000 nm. Within type II regime, the modifications exhibit circular optical properties. By using differential decomposition of the Mueller matrix, the circular and linear birefringences as well as dichroism are quantified. A maximum value of the effective structural optical activity of 90°/mm at 550nm is found.