Open AccessSelf-assembled three-dimensional periodic micro-nano structures in bulk quartz crystal induced by femtosecond laser pulses
Author(s) -
Fangteng Zhang,
Zhaogang Nie,
Hainan Huang,
Lin Ma,
Hui Tang,
Mingming Hao,
Jianrong Qiu
Publication year - 2019
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.27.006442
Subject(s) - femtosecond , materials science , laser , optics , quartz , crystal (programming language) , scanning electron microscope , wavelength , polarization (electrochemistry) , laser scanning , optoelectronics , chemistry , physics , computer science , composite material , programming language
In-volume, self-assembled, three-dimensional, periodic micro-nano structures are induced in quartz crystal by tightly focused, 500-kHz femtosecond laser pulses. With suitable pulse energy, three different types of periodic structures can be observed in modified regions using scanning electron microscopy. The first one with period (Λ E ) of ~400 nm in the direction of the laser polarization, i.e. nanograting, shows indicative features similar to that in fused silica. The second one with period (Λ S ) in the scan direction and the third one with period (Λ k ) in the laser propagation direction are both equally spaced by ~1 μm, which is close to the laser wavelength. Moreover, the structure with period (Λ k ) covers almost the whole cross-section of modified regions, which is distinctive to that observed in fused silica. Through the comparison of the structures induced by 1-kHz pluses and those by 500-kHz pluses, we deduce that the heat accumulation effect may have a positive influence on the formation of nanogratings in quartz crystal.