Ionisation processes and laser induced periodic surface structures in dielectrics with mid-infrared femtosecond laser pulses

Abstract

Irradiation of solids with ultrashort pulses and laser processing in the mid-Infrared (mid-IR) spectral region is a yet predominantly unexplored field with a large potential for a wide range of applications. In this work, laser driven physical phenomena associated with processes following irradiation of fused silica (SiO2) with ultrashort laser pulses in the mid-IR region are investigated in detail. A multiscale modelling approach is performed that correlates conditions for formation of perpendicular or parallel to the laser polarisation low spatial frequency periodic surface structures for low and high intensity mid-IR pulses (not previously explored in dielectrics at those wavelengths), respectively. Results demonstrate a remarkable domination of tunneling effects in the photoionisation rate and a strong influence of impact ionisation for long laser wavelengths. The methodology presented in this work is aimed to shed light on the fundamental mechanisms in a previously unexplored spectral area and allow a systematic novel surface engineering with strong mid-IR fields for advanced industrial laser applications.

To appear in Scientific Reports

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Cited by in corpus (7)

• Tailoring Sub-micrometer Periodic Surface Structures via Ultrashort Pulsed Direct Laser Interference Patterning
• Predictive modeling approaches in laser-based material processing
• Tailoring surface topographies on solids with Mid-IR femtosecond laser pulses
• Ionization dynamics and damage conditions for transparent materials irradiated with Mid-Infrared femtosecond pulses
• Formation of Highly Tunable Periodic Plasmonic Structures on Gold Films Using Direct Laser Writing
• Damage threshold evaluation of thin metallic films exposed to femtosecond laser pulses: the role of material thickness
• Deciphering Carrier Dynamics in Polycarbonate Following Excitation with Ultrashort Laser Pulses