Characteristics of structural changes in fused silica under the effect of femtosecond laser radiation in the heat accumulation regime

Structural changes induced in fused silica subjected to focused femtosecond laser radiation in the heat accumulation regime are studied. The spatial profile of the induced refractive index and the effect its amplitude has on such effects as the self-focusing of the laser radiation, and thermal and photochemical processes are investigated. Individual contributions from each of these effects are separated and their effect is described on the basis of experimental dependences for the first time. It is also shown that the use of heat accumulation regime substantially increases the induced refractive index, compared to the nonthermal regime.