Femtosecond laser structuring of un-doped poly(methyl methacrylate) at 387nm produced features < 0.5μm, wave guides and grating structures inside polymer fibre with refractive index change of 3x10-3. Polymer backbone cleavage and monomer formation cause photo-modification.
Femtosecond, sub-ablation threshold UV photo-modification of poly(methyl methacrylate) is explored. Volatile fragment analysis (thermal desorption gas chromatography - mass spectrometry) and molecular weight distribution monitoring (size exclusion chromatography) suggest direct backbone cleavage and monomer formation.