Self‐Processing of Surface‐Relief Gratings in Photosensitive Hybrid Sol‐Gel Glasses

Sol‐gel glasses that self‐process to form surface‐relief gratingsare described. A method is presented by which, upon UV illumination of acrylate‐modified silica–titania sol‐gel glass thin films through a contact amplitude mask, constrained densification takes place and surface corrugations are formed (see Figure). No post‐treatment is required.