Modeling optical breakdown in dielectrics during ultrafast laser processing

Rutile TiO2 Flocculent Ripples with High Antireflectivity and Superhydrophobicity on the Surface of Titanium under 10 ns Laser Irradiation without Focusing

We report on the formation of rutile TiO₂ flocculent laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSSs) with high antireflectivity and superhydrophobicity on the surface of titanium under 10 ns 1064 nm laser irradiation without focusing. The center part of the Gaussian laser beam is used to deposit flocculent structure and the edge part used to produce LIPSSs. The melt and modification thresholds of titanium were determined first, and then, the melt and modification spot-overlap numbers, several responsible for the formation of flocculent structure and LIPSSs, were introduced. It is found that both the melt and modification spot-overlap numbers increase with an increase in laser fluence and spot-overlap number, contributing to the production of flocculent LIPSSs. LIPSSs are obtained with the modification spot-overlap number above 300, and the amount of flocculent structures increases with an increase in the peak laser fluence and spot-overlap number. Then, considering that the fine adjustment of the melt and modification spot-overlop numbers in one-time line scanning is quite difficult, the composite structure, of which both LIPSSs and flocculent structures are distinct, was optimized using laser line scanning twice. On this basis, a characterization test shows the sample full of the flocculent LIPSSs represents best antireflectivity with the value around 10% in the waveband between 260 and 2600 nm (advance 5 times in infrared wavelengths compared to the initial titanium surface), and shows the no-stick hydrophobicity with the contact angle of 160° and roll-off angle of 25° because of the pure rutile phase of TiO₂.

Mechanism of dynamic plasma motion in internal modification of glass by fs-laser pulses at high pulse repetition rate

Evolution of free-electron density in internal modification of glass by fs-laser pulses at high pulse repetition rates is simulated based on rate equation model, which is coupled with thermal conduction model in order to incorporate the effect of thermal ionization. Model shows that highly absorbing small plasma generated near the geometrical focus moves toward the laser source periodically to cover the region, which is much larger than focus volume. The simulated results agree qualitatively with dynamic motion of plasma produced in internal modification of borosilicate glass by fs-laser pulses at 1 MHz through the observation using high-speed video camera. The paper also reveals the physical mechanism of the internal modification of glass when heat accumulation is significant.

Dependence of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy results on pulse energies and timing parameters using soil simulants

The dependence of some LIBS detection capabilities on lower pulse energies (<100 mJ) and timing parameters were examined using synthetic silicate samples. These samples were used as simulants for soil and contained minor and trace elements commonly found in soil at a wide range of concentrations. For this study, over 100 calibration curves were prepared using different pulse energies and timing parameters; detection limits and sensitivities were determined from the calibration curves. Plasma temperatures were also measured using Boltzmann plots for the various energies and the timing parameters tested. The electron density of the plasma was calculated using the full-width half maximum (FWHM) of the hydrogen line at 656.5 nm over the energies tested. Overall, the results indicate that the use of lower pulse energies and non-gated detection do not seriously compromise the analytical results. These results are very relevant to the design of field- and person-portable LIBS instruments.

Study of nanostructure growth with nanoscale apex induced by femtosecond laser irradiation at megahertz repetition rate

Leaf-like nanostructures with nanoscale apex are induced on dielectric target surfaces by high-repetition-rate femtosecond laser irradiation in ambient conditions. We have recently developed this unique technique to grow leaf-like nanostructures with such interesting geometry without the use of any catalyst. It was found to be possible only in the presence of background nitrogen gas flow. In this synthesis method, the target serves as the source for building material as well as the substrate upon which these nanostructures can grow. In our investigation, it was found that there are three possible kinds of nanotips that can grow on target surfaces. In this report, we have presented the study of the growth mechanisms of such leaf-like nanostructures under various conditions such as different laser pulse widths, pulse repetition rates, dwell times, and laser polarizations. We observed a clear transformation in the kind of nanotips that grew for the given laser conditions.

Measurement of nonlinear refractive index coefficient using emission spectrum of filament induced by gigawatt-femtosecond pulse in BK7 glass

A beam of 33 fs laser pulse with peak power of 15-40 GW was employed to explore a convenient method to determine the nonlinear refractive index coefficient of an optical glass. It is rare to investigate nonlinearities of optical glass with such an extreme ultrashort and powerful laser pulse. According to our method, only a single beam and a few experimental apparatuses are necessary to measure the nonlinear refractive index coefficient. The results from our method are in reasonable agreement with the others, which demonstrates that this new method works well, and the nonlinear refractive index coefficient is independent of measuring technology. Meanwhile, according to our results and those obtained by others in different laser power ranges, it seems that the nonlinear refractive index coefficient has a weak dependence on the laser peak power.

Experimental study on GaP surface damage threshold induced by a high repetition rate femtosecond laser

The surface damage threshold of undoped bulk <110> GaP induced by a high repetition rate femtosecond pulse at 1040 nm with a duration of 61 fs was studied. The threshold value was obtained by a linear fit of the incident single pulse fluence and was confirmed with a breakdown test around the threshold level. The result will be useful in high intensity, high repetition rate laser applications and ultrafast processes.

Laser direct-write technique for fabricating microlens arrays on soda-lime glass with a Nd:YVO4 laser

A one-step direct-write technique for fabricating spherical microlenses on soda-lime glass substrates is described. Using a Q switched Nd:YVO(4) laser combined with a galvanometer system, square and triangular microlens arrays were fabricated. The focal length of microlenses is measured using direct and nondirect methods. Values around 118 and 125 µm were obtained for the microlens focal length of square and triangular arrays, respectively. A noncontact profilometer is used for determining the surface roughness of square and triangular arrays. Results are compared with that of glass substrate.

Mapping age-related elasticity changes in porcine lenses using bubble-based acoustic radiation force

Bubble-based acoustic radiation force aims to measure highly localized tissue viscoelastic properties. In the current investigation, acoustic radiation force was applied to laser-induced bubbles to measure age-related changes in the spatial distribution of elastic properties within in vitro porcine lenses. A potential in vivo technique to map lens elasticity is crucial to understanding the onset of presbyopia and develop new treatment options. Bubble-based acoustic radiation force was investigated as a technique to measure the spatial elasticity distribution of the lens in its natural state without disrupting the lens capsule. Laser-induced optical breakdown (LIOB) generated microbubbles in a straight line across the equatorial plane of explanted porcine lenses with 1mm lateral spacing. Optical breakdown occurs when sufficiently high threshold fluence is attained at the focus of femtosecond pulsed lasers, inducing plasma formation and bubble generation. A two-element confocal ultrasonic transducer applied 6.5 ms acoustic radiation force-chirp bursts with the 1.5 MHz outer element while monitoring bubble position within the lens using pulse-echoes with the 7.44 MHz inner element. A cross-correlation method was used to measure bubble displacements and determine exponential time constants of the temporal responses. Maximum bubble displacements are inversely proportional to the local Young's modulus, while time constants are indicative of viscoelastic properties. The apparent spatial elasticity distributions in 41 porcine lenses, ranging from 4 months to 5 years in age, were measured using bubble-based acoustic radiation force. Bubble displacements decrease closer to the porcine lens center, suggesting that the nucleus is stiffer than the cortex. Bubble displacements decrease with increasing lens age, suggesting that porcine lenses become stiffer with age. Bubble-based acoustic radiation force may be well-suited as a potential in vivo technique to spatially map elastic properties of the lens and guide therapeutic procedures aimed at restoring accommodation.

High-power regime of femtosecond-laser pulse propagation in silica: multiple-cone formation

We present a numerical study of the (2+1)-dimensional propagation dynamics of femtosecond-laser pulses in silica. In particular, considered are pulses, whose power is tens to hundreds of times higher than the threshold for self-focusing. We solve the axially symmetric, extended, nonlinear Schrödinger equation for the laser electric field, including group velocity dispersion, Kerr nonlinearity, plasma formation and defocusing, self-steepening, and space-time focusing. Our simulation results reveal that the high-power pulses are split spatially, as well as temporally, several times into multiple cones during its propagation. This new structure is formed as a result of the interplay of strong Kerr self-focusing and plasma defocusing. The number of cones and their angle with respect to the propagation axis increase with incident pulse energy. The uncertainty, which may be contained in the evaluation of plasma response and band-to-band transition rate, and the pulse disturbance by modulation instability are also analyzed. Although these influence the details of the pulse propagation, they do not affect the essence of our results: the multiple-cone formation.