Not yet reviewed by Pith; the record is open.

In-volume ultrafast laser direct writing of silicon is generally limited by strong nonlinear propagation effects preventing the initiation of modifications. By employing a triple-optimization procedure in the spectral, temporal and spatial domains, we demonstrate that modifications can be repeatably produced inside silicon. Our approach relies on irradiation at $\approx 2$-$\mu$m wavelength with temporally-distorted femtosecond pulses. These pulses are focused in a way that spherical aberrations of different origins counterbalance, as predicted by point spread function analyses and in good agreement with nonlinear propagation simulations. We also establish the laws governing modification growth on a pulse-to-pulse basis, which allows us to demonstrate transverse inscription inside silicon with various line morphologies depending on the irradiation conditions. We finally show that the production of single-pulse repeatable modifications is a necessary condition for reliable transverse inscription inside silicon.