Laser processing of noble metal doped glasses by femto- and nanosecond laser pulses

Abstract

This work represents results on the response of noble metal-doped borosilicate glass to laser radiation with femto- and nanosecond pulse duration. The material under study is obtained by conventional melt quenching method as samples with noble metal concentration varied up to 10 wt% are fabricated. Optical and morphology changes of the glass samples induced by application of laser pulses with a wide range of parameters are studied. Below the permanent modification threshold, defects associated with formation of color centers in the material are observed and their properties as a function of the processing conditions are discussed. It is found that at certain conditions laser irradiation may induce direct formation of noble metal nanoparticles in the glass. When permanent morphology modifications are induced, different micro- and nanostructures are observed depending on the laser parameters. The morphology of the ablated area is studied as function of the laser fluence and number of the applied pulses. It is found that the presence of noble metal in the glass at concentrations up to 10 wt% (the maximal used) does not influence the ablation rate at both femto- and nanosecond ablation. The formation of defects and the composition of the material in the vicinity of the ablated zone are also discussed.