Threshold fluence for domain reversal directly induced by femtosecond laser in lithium niobate

Fabricating domain reversal directly induced by femtosecond laser is a novel and promising method to induce micron-period or even submicron-period inverted domain structure for it averts the domain spreading and mergence which is hard to avoid by traditional electric-field poling method. In this paper, the domain reversal process in lithium niobate crystal by irradiation of femtosecond pulses whose spatial and temporal distributions are taken into consideration is numerically simulated in the framework of Fahy’s model. The simulation results manifest the domain inversion window theory and predict the threshold reversal fluence. The experiment to form domain reversal via direct illumination with femtosecond laser in Y-cut lithium niobate samples was conducted at room temperature. The multi-ring-like structures on the processed samples tally with the inversion window theory and the calculated threshold reversal fluence is well within the scope obtained by simulation, which serves as a corroborative evidence to prove the domain reversals can be formed by direct irradiation with femtosecond laser in lithium niobate.     

不同气氛下飞秒激光诱导硅表面微结构

利用钛宝石飞秒激光脉冲对单晶硅在SF6、空气和真空环境中进行了累积脉冲辐照,研究了硅表面微结构的演化。在SF6气氛中,在激光辐照的初始阶段,硅表面形成了1维的波纹结构,随着辐照脉冲数的增加,波纹结构演化成了2维凹凸结构。累积600个脉冲后,硅表面产生了准规则排列且具有大纵横比的锥形尖峰结构。该结构呈现高度相对较低、锥形尖端小球不明显的特征,分析认为主要与环境气压的大小有关。对比空气、SF6和真空中的微结构发现,尖峰的数密度依次减小;SF6中形成的尖峰高度最大,其次为真空,再次为空气。研究结果表明,真空、SF6和空气3种环境下微结构的形成及表面形貌主要由激光烧蚀、化学刻蚀和氧化决定。     

Colorizing mechanism of brass surface by femtosecond laser induced microstructures

In this paper, we exhibit the colorizing of brass surfaces by forming femtosecond laser induced microstructures on the sample surfaces. A variety of single colors such as brown, yellow, green, and black are introduced on brass surfaces by engineering periodic microgratings, microholes, and ring-shaped micro-patterns using Single Beam Direct Laser Writing (SBDLW) technique. The color of the micro-structured brass surfaces is certainly dependent on the width, depth, and period of the microstructures. Finally, we explain, in brief, the colorizing mechanism of metals by femtosecond laser induced microstructures.     

Mechanism study of femtosecond laser induced selective metallization (FLISM) on glass surfaces

We investigate the mechanism of selective metallization on glass surfaces with the assistance of femtosecond laser irradiation followed by electroless plating. Irradiation of femtosecond laser makes it possible to selectively deposit copper microstructures in the irradiated area on glass surfaces coated with silver nitrate films. The energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analyses reveal that silver atoms are produced on the surface of grooves formed by laser ablation, which serve as catalysis seeds for subsequent electroless copper plating.     

Analytical study on metal microstructures using femtosecond laser

We made considerations for microstructures on chromium film observed after femtosecond laser irradiation through an analytical study. Laser diffraction through an optical system with a rectangular aperture was analyzed for the estimation of intensity distribution at the focal point. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation was also performed for the examination of laser ablation of metal by taking account of the electron–phonon relaxation. From results of diffraction calculation, it was shown that a typical surface pattern is significantly affected by laser intensity distribution. On the other hand, it may be estimated through the MD simulation that the porosity formation evolves by cumulative pulses with energy close to the ablation threshold and their surrounding grows to microcolumns with volume expansion. PACS 68.08.De; 68.35.-p     

Study of the microstructural transformations of borate glass and barium metaborate crystals induced by femtosecond laser

This paper describes the microstructural transformations of borate glass and barium metaborate crystals induced by femtosecond laser. Such structural transformations were verified by Raman spectroscopy. The borate glass is transformed into low temperature (LT) phase of barium metaborate (BaB_2O_4) crystals after being irradiated for 10 min by a femtosecond laser. In addition, after 20 min of irradiation, high temperature (HT) phase of BaB_2O_4 crystals is also produced. Further studies demonstrate that LT phase BaB_2O_4 crystals are formed in the HT phase BaB_2O_4 crystals after femtosecond laser irradiation for 10 s.     

Raman spectroscopic investigation on femtosecond laser induced residual stress and element distribution in bismuth germanate glasses

Localized microstructure and elemental redistribution were induced in bismuth germanate glasses by irradiation with high repetition rate 800 nm femtosecond laser pulses. The confocal Raman spectra were examined to study the redistribution of elements and residual thermal stress. The microscopic Raman spectra indicated that the residual thermal stress increases from the unmodified region to the center of the laser modified region, while Bi is enriched at the boundary area of the inner structure of the laser modified region relative to Ge. Electron microprobe analysis further confirmed the elemental redistribution of Bi and Ge, which agrees well with the Raman spectral analysis. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Nanoparticles size modifications during femtosecond laser ablation of nickel in vacuum

Nanoparticles were synthesized by irradiating a nickel target with femtosecond laser pulses in high vacuum, and subsequently analyzed. The proof-of-principle experiments aim to modify the size characteristics of the produced nanoparticles. For nickel it is found that: (i) ultraviolet laser pulses lead to a remarkable change in the nanoparticles size distribution with respect to visible laser pulses; (ii) irradiation of the femtosecond pulses induced ablation plume with a second, delayed ultraviolet laser pulse can change the size characteristics of the produced nanoparticles.     

飞秒激光剥蚀电感耦合等离子体质谱在地球科学中的应用进展

激光剥蚀电感耦合等离子体质谱(LA-ICP-MS)是原位微区元素含量和同位素比值分析测试的主流技术, 已被广泛应用于地球科学等相关领域。飞秒激光剥蚀系统由于其极短的激光脉宽大大降低甚至消除了传统纳秒激光剥蚀产生的热效应导致的元素分馏问题,在非基体匹配分析等方面显示出巨大发展潜力,已成为当前LA-ICP-MS技术的一个新的发展趋势和研究热点。介绍了飞秒激光剥蚀系统的基本特征(飞秒激光及产生原理、当前商用飞秒激光器种类),重点阐述了飞秒激光剥蚀地球科学样品的机理(样品对激光能量的吸收方式、气溶胶的产生和粒度分布特征、剥蚀坑的形貌特征等),评述了飞秒激光剥蚀在改善分析性能方面的独特优势,最后总结了近十几年来它在地球科学样品元素含量和同位素比值分析中的实际应用,并展望了该技术的应用前景。     

Micromachining soda-lime glass by femtosecond laser pulses

The physical process of forming a modified region in soda-lime glass was investigated using 1 kHz intense femtosecond laser pulses from a Ti: sapphire laser at 775 nm. Through the modifications induced by the femtosecond laser radiation using selective chemical etching techniques, we fabricated reproducible and defined microstructures and further studied their morphologies and etching properties. Moreover, a possible physical mechanism for the femtosecond laser modification in soda-lime glass was proposed.     

Fabrication of Micro -Optical Devices by a Femtosecond Laser

Femtosecond laser is a perfect laser source for materials processing when high accuracy and small structure size are required. Due to the ultra short interaction time and the high peak power, the process is generally characterized by the absence of heat diffusion and, consequently molten layers. Various induced structures have been observed in materials after the femtosecond laser irradiation. Here, we report on fabrication of micro-optical devices by the femtosecond laser. 1) formation of optical waveguide with internal loss less than 0.5dB/cm in the wavelength region from 1.2 to 1.6 mm, by translating a silica glass perpendicular to the axis of the focused femtosecond laser beam; 2) nano-scale valence state manipulation of active ions inside transparent materials; 3) space-selective precipitation and control of metal nanoparticles inside transparent materials; The mechanisms and applications of the femtosecond laser induced phenomena were also discussed.     

X-ray analysis of mechanical and thermal effects induced by femtosecond laser treatment of aluminum single crystals

Surface marking of aluminum single crystal is performed with femtosecond laser pulses. X-ray analysis allows to measure thermal and mechanical effects induced by the femtosecond laser pulses. These effects are estimated by comparing the pole figures (crystallinity) and the broadening of the diffraction peaks (mechanical contribution) before and after the laser irradiation. The results show that the femtosecond laser treatment ensures a re-crystallization of the structure and the presence of mechanical residual stresses. The analysis of the pole figures provides the sign of a re-crystallization on smaller volumes compared to initial ones. After the laser irradiation, the crystallization is perfectly oriented like the (1 1 0) orientation of the massive sample. Moreover, following the laser treatment, we show that the crystallographic structure is purer than the initial one. We also prove that the laser effect is persistent on a typical scale of 10 μm beyond the surface.     

不同烧蚀条件下飞秒激光脉冲诱导ZnO纳米结构研究

烧蚀条件对飞秒激光脉冲诱导氧化锌纳米结构有重要影响.研究了800 nm,150 fs,250 kHz的飞秒激光脉冲分别在空气中,去离子水中以及无水乙醇中垂直聚焦于氧化锌晶体表面,诱导形成不同形态的纳米结构.实验结果表明,在空气中利用飞秒激光脉冲辐照样品表面,形成了周期为180 nm的纳米线;在去离子水中辐照诱导形成了由氧化锌纳米线聚集而成的"纳米球";在无水乙醇中形成出现分叉结构的纳米线.拉曼光谱分析辐照前后晶体晶相结果表明,形成的纳米结构相对于辐照前特征峰437 cm-1强度有所下降,在570 cm-1处的峰值则显著增强.分析了在各种烧蚀条件下诱导形成纳米结构的演化过程以及物理机理.     

Femtosecond laser-induced long-lasting phosphorescence in Pr^3＋-doped ZnO-B2O3-SiO2 glass

This paper studies the phenomenon of long-lasting phosphorescence induced by a femtosecond laser in Pr3 -doped ZnO-B2O3-SiO2 glass. With the glass irradiated by a focused femtosecond laser for a short time, the emission of strong reddish long-lasting phosphorescence from the irradiated part of the glass can be observed. The emission peaks are located at 495 and 603 nm in wavelength, showing that the long-lasting phosphorescence originates from the emission of Pr^3 . The intensity of the phosphorescence decreases in inverse proportion to time after the removal of the laser. By analysing the absorption and electron spin resonance spectra of the glass, we find that colour-centres are induced in the glass matrix after the irradiation of the femtosecond laser. A possible mechanism has been provided to account for the generation of long-lasting phosphorescence.     

飞秒激光诱导Li2O-Nb2O5-SiO2玻璃析晶拉曼谱研究

通过使用波长 800nm、重复频率 250kHz的飞秒激光脉冲聚焦进Li2O-Nb2O5-SiO2组分的玻璃内部,空间选择性诱导出铌酸锂微晶.为了进一步地研究辐照区域晶体的生长机制,使用显微拉曼光谱仪分析了玻璃样品辐照区域不同位置的结构变化.研究表明,在飞秒激光辐照一段时间后的聚焦区域,由于非线性效应和热累积效应形成了一个高温辐射梯度场,在激光辐照中心区域超过玻璃的析晶温度而促使玻璃熔融析晶.     

Realignment process of actin stress fibers in single living cells studied by focused femtosecond laser irradiation

Three-dimensional dissection of a single actin stress fiber in a living cell was performed based on multi-photon absorption of a focused femtosecond laser pulse. The realignment process of an actin stress fiber was investigated after its direct cutting by a single-shot femtosecond laser pulse irradiation by high-speed transmission and fluorescence imaging methods. It was confirmed that mechanical force led by the femtosecond laser cutting propagates to entire cell through the cytockelton in a 100 μs time scale. The cut actin stress fiber was realigned in the time scale of a few tens of minutes. The dynamic analysis of the realignment induced by single-shot femtosecond laser gives new information on cell activity.     

High repetition rate femtosecond laser irradiation-induced elements redistribution in Ag-doped glass

A 250 kHz femtosecond laser was used to induce a one-step precipitation of Ag nanoparticles and the simultaneous element redistribution in Ag ion doped glass. After femtosecond laser exposure, a ring-shape region was formed. Besides, as a result of an optical spherical aberration effect, a nonuniform laser intensity distribution along the incident direction caused most of the formed Ag nanoparticles to precipitate in the lower part of cross section of this structure. By an EPMA analysis, the relative concentration of the Ag element was both high in the center and in the boundary of the ring-shape region. These Ag nanoparticles could potentially increase the refractive index in their precipitation regions. We proposed that the induced ion redistribution and the precipitation of Ag nanoparticles should be due to the heat accumulation effect by the high repetition rate femtosecond laser irradiation.     

Femtosecond laser induced periodic large-scale surface structures on metals

The periodic ripple structures on wolfram and titanium surfaces are induced experimentally by linear polarized femtosecond laser pulses at small incident angles. The structural features show a material difference in the s- and p-polarized laser irradiation. The interspace between the ripples increases significantly for p-polarized laser irradiation when it exceeds a threshold angle, and the ripples' periodicities are larger than the wavelength of the incident p-polarized femtosecond laser; however, no significant change in the period of the ripples is observed with increasing incident angle for s-polarized laser irradiation. To explain these phenomena we propose a resonant absorption mechanism, by which the experimental observations can be interpreted.     

Pulse width effect in ultrafast laser ionization imaging

The effects of different laser pulse widths on laser-induced ionization imaging of microstructures embedded in transparent materials are investigated. It is shown that a femtosecond laser-induced ionization probe can detect the variation of elemental composition of the sample materials with a higher contrast ratio, whereas the ionization probe generated by picosecond laser pulses is more sensitive to the structural change inside optical materials, which can be well explained by the different roles of multiphoton ionization and avalanche ionization involved in material breakdown. These results also suggest that an optimum diagnosis could be obtained if well-selected laser parameters are employed in ultrafast laser ionization imaging.