1. Femtosecond laser pulses can be used to fabricate waveguides inside various glasses and crystals, allowing for the creation of three-dimensional photonic devices.
2. The authors present the first true three-dimensional integrated optical device, a 1×3 splitter fabricated in pure fused silica.
3. The paper discusses the optical properties of this device and possibilities for the fabrication of complex high-density integrated optical elements.
The article is generally reliable and trustworthy, as it is published in a reputable journal (Applied Physics A) and written by experienced researchers from a well-known university (Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena). The authors provide evidence to support their claims, such as citing other research papers on related topics and providing detailed descriptions of their experiments. Furthermore, they discuss potential risks associated with their work, such as safety concerns when working with lasers.
However, there are some areas where the article could be improved upon. For example, while the authors discuss potential applications of their work, they do not explore any counterarguments or alternative solutions that may exist. Additionally, they do not provide any information on how much their proposed solution would cost or how feasible it would be to implement in practice. Finally, while they cite other research papers on related topics, they do not provide any references to studies that have found conflicting results or have reached different conclusions than theirs.