Imaging Light-Matter Interactions Following Ultrafast Processing of Transparent Materials

Abstract

Ultrafast laser processing of brittle transparent materials involves a chain of physical processes on timescales from femtoseconds to milliseconds. Using time-resolved imaging, this paper reports on several of these processes and relevant timescales.

Shockwave and crack monitoring following nonlinear absorption with picosecond time-resolved microscopic imaging

“…Intense nonlinear absorption of laser pulses in otherwise transparent brittle materials results in a complex cascade of electrical, vibrational, chemical, and morphological changes on timescales from sub-femtoseconds to seconds or longer [1][2][3]. The understanding and control of these mechanisms is vital to both control of damage in such materials, but also in deliberate processing of such materials such as cutting, drilling or index modification.…”