CO2-Laser-Induced Regular Periodic Structures on Glass Substrates

Abstract

A CW CO2 laser was used to induce regular and tidy periodic structures on glass substrates. It is experimentally shown that the wave vector of the ripples is perpendicular to the recording polarization irrespective of the scanning direction. The occurrence of periodic structures is highly sensitive to laser power level and scanning velocity. To obtain appropriate periodic patterns, a combined condition of laser power and scanning velocity must be satisfied. Different directions of laser scanning lead to different occurrence areas. Different kinds of materials seem to develop the occurrence areas with almost similar shape, but their relative positions and dimensions may be different. The maximum laser scanning velocity range to form regular and tidy periodic structures appears at the optimum power condition. Moreover, the maximum period could be obtained at this optimum condition.