Open AccessMorphology of femtosecond laser modification of bulk dielectrics
Author(s) -
Konstantin Popov,
Clare McElcheran,
Kyle Briggs,
Stephanie Mack,
Lora Ramunno
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.19.000271
Subject(s) - optics , laser , materials science , femtosecond , plasma , dielectric , polarization (electrochemistry) , absorption (acoustics) , optoelectronics , physics , chemistry , quantum mechanics
Using 3D Finite-Difference-Time-Domain simulations, we study the morphology of the laser-created damage inside fused silica. Among the competing effects limiting the intensity in the dielectric, we find the most important is the pulse defocusing by the plasma lens, partially balanced by the Kerr effect. Less important are collisional energy dissipation and laser depletion by multi-photon absorption. We also found that the profile of generated plasma is asymmetrical in the transverse cross-section, with the plasma extended along the direction perpendicular to the laser polarization.