Er:Yb-doped waveguide laser fabricated by femtosecond laser pulses

Laser action is demonstrated in a 20-mm-long waveguide fabricated on an Er:Yb-doped phosphate glass by femtosecond laser pulses. An output power of 1.7 mW with approximately 300 mW of pump power coupled into the waveguide is obtained at 1533.5 nm. Waveguides are manufactured with the 520-nm radiation from a frequency-doubled, diode-pumped, cavity-dumped Yb:glass laser operating at a 166-KHz repetition rate, with a 300-fs pulse duration.     

Generation of terahertz radiation during reflection of femtosecond laser pulses from a metal surface

The features of terahertz radiation generated upon oblique incidence of a femtosecond laser pulse on a metal surface are investigated theoretically. We propose a Cherenkov-type generation mechanism associated with excitation of low-frequency surface currents by a p-polarized optical field. The nonlinear surface currents and corresponding electrodynamic characteristics of low-frequency radiation are calculated analytically and by numerical simulation using the hydrodynamic model. The features of Cherenkov generation of terahertz radiation are analyzed, and techniques are proposed for increasing efficiency.     

Bi-directional terahertz emission from gold-coated nanogratings by excitation via femtosecond laser pulses

We report on the investigation of terahertz (THz) emission from gold-coated nanogratings (500 nm grating constant) upon femtosecond laser irradiation (785?nm, 150?fs, 1?kHz, ??1?mJ/pulse). Unlike common assumptions, THz emission is not only observed in case of rear side irradiation (through substrate (Welsh et al. in Phys. Rev. Lett. 98:026803, 2007; Welsh and Wynne in Opt. Express 17:2470?C2480, 2009)) of the nanograting, but also in case of front side excitation (through air). Furthermore in both cases, THz emission propagates in the direction of laser beam propagation and reverse. Based on these findings, we suggest a new approach to describe the newly observed phenomena. Using a highly sensitive and fast superconducting transition edge sensor (TES) as calorimeter, it was possible to directly measure the absolute energy of the emitted THz pulses in a defined spectral and spatial range, enabling for the first time a quantitative analysis of the THz emission process.     

Sub-wavelength surface structuring of NiTi alloy by femtosecond laser pulses

Generation of self-organized sub-wavelength surface structures on a nickel–titanium alloy plate by femtosecond laser pulses is investigated experimentally through line-scribing experiments in air. It is found that Bragg-like relief gratings, with the orientation perpendicular to the laser polarization, are formed over the entire laser-scribed regions. The average period is measured as 630±30 nm. Distinctive features of these novel surface structures include nanoparticle-covered grating ridges and the maintainable spatial period regardless of incidence angles. With different laser parameters and sample scan speeds, sub-wavelength grating structures can evolve into cellular-like nanotextures. Optimal conditions for forming these surface structures are determined in terms of laser energy and scan speed. Elementary analyses of the structured surfaces by X-ray diffraction and photoelectron spectroscopy reveal that both the crystal structures and the chemical elements can remain in their original states, but the surface grains are refined and the atomic percentages are varied after femtosecond laser treatments.     

Time-resolved measurement of surface diffusion induced by femtosecond laser pulses

Diffusion of atomic oxygen on a vicinal Pt111 surface induced by femtosecond laser pulses has been studied using optical second-harmonic generation as a sensitive in situ probe of the step coverage. Time-resolved studies of the hopping rate for step-terrace diffusion with a two-pulse correlation scheme reveal a time constant of 1.5 ps for the energy transfer from the electronic excitation of the substrate to the frustrated translations of the adsorbate.     

Optical waveguide writing inside Foturan glass with femtosecond laser pulses

We investigated the femtosecond laser writing of optical waveguides inside Foturan glass at various pulse energies and focusing depths. An optimal waveguide fabricated solely by femtosecond laser irradiation showed a refractive index modulation of ∼1.7×10^-3 and a minimum transmission loss of ∼0.80 dB/cm. This type of waveguide had lower transmission loss than those fabricated by a hybrid process of femtosecond laser exposure and following thermal treatment. An optical splitter was also fabricated at high pulse energy. PACS 42.65.Re; 42.82.Et; 42.70.Gi     

Optical waveguide arrays induced in fused silica by void-like defects using femtosecond laser pulses

We report a new approach to the microfabrication of permanent optical waveguide arrays inside fused silica induced by focusing infrared femtosecond laser pulses with microjoule energy. These arrays consist of waveguides limited by void-like damage zones with very loose coupling among adjacent guides, thus allowing the excitation of a single one. The proposed method shows the possibility of using created void-like structures for both the fabrication of integrated optical devices as well as for the control of previously induced refractive index change regions. PACS 42.65.Re; 42.82.Et; 42.79.-e     

Morphology and composition on Al surface irradiated by femtosecond laser pulses

We study the surface chemicals and structures of aluminum plates irradiated by scanning femtosecond laser pulses in air for a wide range of laser fluence from 0.38 to 33.6 J/cm². X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analyses indicate clearly that crystalline anorthic Al(OH)₃ is formed under femtosecond laser pulse irradiation. Besides aluminum hydroxide, crystalline Al₂O₃ is also found in the samples irradiated at high laser fluence. Field emission scanning electron microscopy demonstrates that the surfaces of the samples irradiated with low laser fluence are colloidal-like and that nanoparticles with a few nanometers in size are embedded in glue-like substances. For high laser fluence irradiated samples, the surfaces are highly porous and covered by nanoparticles with uniform size of less than 20 nm.     

Periodic surface nanostructures on polycrystalline ZnO induced by femtosecond laser pulses

Periodic surface nanostructures induced by femtosecond laser pulses on polycrystalline ZnO are presented. By translating the sample line-by-line under appropriate irradiation conditions, grating-like nanostructures with an average period of 160 nm are fabricated. The dependence of surface morphologies on the processing parameters, such as laser fluence, pulse number and laser polarization, are studied by scanning electronic microscope (SEM). In addition, photoluminescence (PL) analysis at room-temperature indicates that the PL intensity of the irradiated area increases significantly compared with the un-irradiated area. Using femtosecond laser pulses irradiation to fabricate periodic surface nanostructures on polycrystalline ZnO is efficient, simple and low cost, which shows great potential applications in ZnO-based optoelectronic devices.     

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。     

Dynamics of the spallative ablation of a GaAs surface irradiated by femtosecond laser pulses

The spallation of a nanometer-thick melt layer on a GaAs surface during its ablation by femtosecond laser pulses occurs with subnanosecond delays and lift-off velocities that depend on the laser fluence after its complete thermal (hydrodynamic) expansion/acoustic relaxation. The position of the spall interface in the melt is determined by the depth of the formation of a two-dimensional subsurface layer of nanobubbles (nanofoam), whereas the strongly heated surface layer of the melt above the nanofoam is partially removed in the form of a vapor-drop mixture. At the thermal expansion stage, acoustic reverberations are observed in the melt layer and characterize both the dynamics of an increase in its thickness and the shift of the cavitation region (nanofoam) inside the melt. Moreover, these reverberations can additionally stimulate spallation, promoting cavitation in the completely unloaded melt in the case of passage of a weak rarefaction wave.     

Structure formation on the surface of alloys irradiated by femtosecond laser pulses

Laser-induced periodic surface structures with different spatial characteristics have been observed after multiple linearly polarized femtosecond laser pulse (120 fs, 800 nm, 1 Hz to 1 kHz pulse repetition frequency) irradiation on alloys. With the increasing number of pulses, nanoripples, classical ripples and modulation ripples with a period close to half of classical ripples have all been induced. The generation of second-harmonic has been supposed to be the main mechanism in the formation of modulation ripples.     

AFM investigation of nanoparticles formed on silicon surface by femtosecond laser pulses

It is shown by atomic force microscopy that nanoparticles formed upon ablation of surface of single-crystal and porous silicon by femtosecond laser pulses have a lateral size from several tens to 200 nm and a height from 2 to 30 nm. Dependences of the nanoparticle sizes and surface concentrations on the residual pressure, which demonstrate the gas atmosphere influence on the nanoparticle formation, are obtained.     

Ar plasma waveguide produced by a low-intensity femtosecond laser

Using the interaction of a low-intensity femtosecond laser pulse (30 fs, 6 × 10¹⁵ Wcm^? 2) with argon cluster jet produced from a slit nozzle, we experimentally probe the formation of a uniform plasma waveguide by the interferogram analysis. The results about evolution of plasma channel demonstrate that it is feasible to produce the plasma waveguide for an fs laser pulse of low-intensity. It takes tens of nanoseconds to form a plasma waveguide. The simulation by one-dimensional Gaussian plasma hydrodynamic expansion model indicates that the temperature of plasma channel is not high under this condition. Thus it takes tens of nanoseconds to form a plasma waveguide.     

Colorizing silicon surface with regular nanohole arrays induced by femtosecond laser pulses

We report on the formation of one- and two-dimensional (1D and 2D) nanohole arrays on the surface of a silicon wafer by scanning with a femtosecond laser with appropriate power and speed. The underlying physical mechanism is revealed by numerical simulation based on the finite-difference time-domain technique. It is found that the length and depth of the initially formed gratings (or ripples) plays a crucial role in the generation of 1D or 2D nanohole arrays. The silicon surface decorated with such nanohole arrays can exhibit vivid structural colors through efficiently diffracting white light.     

飞秒激光诱导钛表面形成高空间频率周期条纹结构

利用波长为800 nm的飞秒激光,在空气和去离子水中诱导钛表面形成不同的周期条纹结构。在空气中,激光能量密度为0.265 J/cm2时,钛表面主要形成周期为500~560 nm低空间频率条纹结构;激光能量密度为0.102 J/cm2时,主要形成的是周期为220~340 nm高空间频率条纹结构。两种条纹均垂直于入射激光偏振方向,且条纹周期随着脉冲重叠数的增大而增大。在水中,除形成垂直激光偏振方向、周期为215~250 nm的高空间频率条纹结构,还形成了平行于激光偏振方向且周期约为入射激光波长八分之一的高空间频率条纹结构。利用表面等离子体理论、二次谐波及Sipe理论对各种周期条纹结构的形成机理进行分析,发现周期条纹结构的形成与钛表面氧化层有密切的关系。