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.