Open AccessControl of periodic ripples growth on metals by femtosecond laser ellipticity
Author(s) -
Yanfu Tang,
Jianjun Yang,
Bo Zhao,
Mingwei Wang,
Xing Zhu
Publication year - 2012
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.20.025826
Subject(s) - femtosecond , optics , laser , ripple , polarization (electrochemistry) , materials science , ellipse , elliptical polarization , clockwise , perpendicular , grating , waveplate , circular polarization , polarizer , linear polarization , physics , geometry , birefringence , amplitude , chemistry , mathematics , quantum mechanics , voltage , astronomy , microstrip
Formation of the periodic ripples on metallic surfaces is investigated comprehensively using variable ellipticities of femtosecond lasers. Compared with the linearly polarized incidence, the well defined grating-like ripple structures rather than the uniform arrays of nanoparticle can always be obtained for the elliptical polarization lasers. The ripple orientation is slanted clockwise or anticlockwise depending on the laser helicity but always display a maximum angle of 45°. Theoretical analyses indicate that no circular polarization is achieved for femtosecond lasers passing through quarter waveplate, and the induced ripple orientation is determined by the major axis of the polarization ellipse. The simulation results agree well with the experimental observations.