Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1959.3/196674

Download PDF (Published version) (Adobe Acrobat PDF, -1 bytes)

Title

Laser-matter interaction in the bulk of transparent dielectrics: confined micro-explosion

Author(s)

Gamaly, Eugene;  Luther-Davies, Barry;  Rode, Andrei;  Juodkazis, Saulius;  Misawa, Hiroki;  Hallo, Ludovic;  Nicolai, Philippe;  Tikhonchuk, Vladimir

Abstract

We present here the experimental and theoretical studies of drastic transformations induced by a single powerful femtosecond laser pulse tightly focused inside a transparent dielectric, that lead to void formation in the bulk. We show that the laser pulse energy absorbed within a volume of less than 1μm3 creates the conditions with pressure and temperature range comparable to that formed by an exploding nuclear bomb. At the laser intensity above 6 × 1012 W/cm2 the material within this volume is rapidly atomized, ionized, and converted into a tiny super-hot cloud of expanding plasma. The expanding plasma generates strong shock and rarefaction waves which result in the formation of a void. Our modelling indicates that unique states of matter can be created using a standard table-top laser in well-controlled laboratory conditions. This state of matter has temperatures 105 K, heating rate up to the 1018 K/s, and pressure more than 100 times the strength of any solid. The laser-affected sites in the bulk were detected ("read") by generation of white continuum using probe femtosecond pulses at much lower laser intensity of 1010 W/cm2 − 1011 W/cm2. Post-examination of voids with an electron microscope revealed a typical size of the void ranges from 200 to 500 nm. These studies will find application for the design of 3D optical memory devices and for formation of photonic band-gap crystals.

Publication type

Journal article

Source

Journal of Physics: Conference Series: proceedings of the Eighth International Conference on Laser Ablation (COLA '05), Banff, Canada, 11-16 September 2005, Vol. 59 (2007), pp. 5-10

Publication year

2007

Keyword(s)

Femtosecond laser pulses;  Laser-matter interaction;  Micro-explosions;  Transparent dielectrics

Publisher

Institute of Physics Publishing

ISSN

1742-6588

Publisher URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/59/1/002

Copyright

Copyright © 2007 IOP Publishing Ltd. Published version of this paper reproduced here in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher. This is an Open Access article which permits the author unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction for non-commercial purposes, provided the original work is properly cited.

Full text

Peer reviewed