Enhanced light absorption of Ag films deposited onto femtosecond laser microstructured silicon

Absorptive properties of silver (Ag) films with the thickness varied from 160 nm to 340 nm deposited onto the surface of femtosecond laser microstructured silicon by vacuum thermal evaporation were measured in a wavelength range of 0.3-16.7 μm. Greatly enhanced light absorption of Ag films has been observed in the whole measured wavelength range. For the same Ag film thickness (268 nm), the light absorption was strongly depended on the height and spacing of the spikes, especially in the region of 1-16.7 μm. The relation between light absorption and thickness of Ag films has also been investigated, it was shown that the light absorption decreases with the increasing thickness of Ag films. The strongly enhanced light absorption in such a wide wavelength range is mainly ascribed to the multiple reflection of light between spikes and surface plasmon excitation of noble metal nano-particles on the spikes surface.     

Nanoparticle formation by the debris produced by femtosecond laser ablation of silicon in ambient air

The debris produced by femtosecond laser ablation (180 fs, 775 nm, 1 kHz) of Si in ambient air is deposited around the ablated craters in a circular zone with diameters between ~ 40 and 300 μm for laser fluences (F) in the region F = 0.2-8 J/cm². The debris consists of nanoparticles. The mean height of the nanoparticles increases with laser fluence (from ~ 70 to 500 nm for fluences in the range F = 0.25-4.38 J/cm²) but at high fluences (F = 8 J/cm²) becomes equal to ~ 170 nm. The average horizontal dimension of the nanoparticles increases with laser fluence. Their average vertical dimension increases in proportion to their average horizontal dimension, but at high fluences becomes much smaller than their corresponding average horizontal dimension. The nanoparticles were found to be single crystals with d spacing of 1.71 ± 0.08 Å (corresponding to {311}).     

Interferometric correlation of infrared femtosecond pulses with two-photon conductivity in a silicon CCD

We present an experimental setup capable of performing a single-shot interferometric correlation of femtosecond pulses using two-photon conductivity in a standard silicon CCD camera. The method is demonstrated with 100-fs pulses at 1.4 microm.     

Differences in the evolution of surface-microstructured silicon fabricated by femtosecond laser pulses with different wavelength

We experimentally investigate the differences in the evolution of surface-microstructured silicon fabricated by femtosecond laser pulses with different wavelength as a function of irradiated laser energy. The results show that when laser energy absorbed by the silicon material is the same, laser pulses with a shorter wavelength can form the surface-microstructured silicon with less laser energy, while the corresponding spike height is much lower than that of laser pulses with a longer wavelength. This is because the penetration depth of the laser pulses increases exponentially at the increase of the laser wavelength. Additionally, for two laser pulses with the certain wavelength and the certain absorption efficiency of silicon, the proportional relations between their formed spike height and irradiated laser energy should be determined. In particular, the average spike height is 3 times with 8 times corresponding energy for 800 nm laser pulses than that of 400 nm. These results are a benefit for the fast and optimum-morphology preparation of microstructured silicon.     

Ultrasmall silver nanopores fabricated by femtosecond laser pulses

Ultrasmall nanopores in silver thin films with a diameter of about 2 nm have been fabricated using femtosecond laser ablation in liquid. Ultrafast laser pulse ablation generates highly nonequilibrium excitated states, from which silver thin films emerge and progressively grow with the assistance of capping agent molecules. During this growth process, capping agent molecules are enclaved within the film, leaving individual ultrasmall pores in the thin film. Our first-principles calculations show that the pore size is critically determined by the dimension of the confined molecules. Our approach advances the capability of optical methods in making nanoscale structures with potential applications in areas such as near-field aperture probes, imaging masks, magnetic plasmonic resonances, and biosensing with individual nanopores.     

Time-resolved explosion dynamics of H2O droplets induced by femtosecond laser pulses

Series of time-resolved still images of the explosion dynamics of micrometer-sized water droplets after femtosecond laser-pulse irradiation were obtained for different laser-pulse intensities. Amplified pulses centered around a wavelength of 805 nm with 1-mJ energy and 60-fs duration were focused onto the droplet to initiate the dynamics. Several effects, such as forward and backward plumes, jets, water films, and shock waves, were investigated. Additionally, the influence of different pulse durations produced by chirping the laser pulses was observed.     

Greatly enhanced infrared normal spectral emissivity of microstructured silicon using a femtosecond laser

The infrared normal spectral emissivity of microstructured silicon prepared by femtosecond laser irradiation in SF₆ was measured for the wavelength range 2.5 μm to 25 μm. Greatly enhanced emissivity compared to that of flat silicon was observed over the entire wavelength range. For a sample with 13-14 μm high spikes, the emissivity at a temperature of 100 °C is approximately 0.96. The emissivity decreases slightly in the wavelength region above 8 μm, but remains higher than 0.9 over most of the measured wavelength range. Also the average emissivity is less than Nextel- Velvet-811-21 Coating, it can be used stably at more wide temperatures from 100 °C to 400 °C. These results show the potential for microstructured silicon to be used as a flat blackbody source or silicon-based pyroelectric and microbolometer devices.     

Fine-pitched microgratings encoded by interference of UV femtosecond laser pulses

Fine-pitched microgratings are encoded on fused silica surfaces by a two-beam laser interference technique employing UV femtosecond pulses from the third harmonics of a Ti:sapphire laser. A pump and prove method utilizing a laser-induced optical Kerr effect or transient optical absorption change has been developed to achieve the time coincidence of the two pulses. Use of the UV pulses makes it possible to narrow the grating pitches to an opening as small as 290 nm, and the groove width of the gratings is of nanoscale size. The present technique provides a novel opportunity for the fabrication of periodic nanoscale structures in various materials.     

Infrared light absorption of silver film coated on the surface of femtosecond laser microstructured silicon in SF6

Absorptive properties of 100 nm thick silver (Ag) films coated on the surface of microstructured silicon prepared by femtosecond laser pulses irradiation in SF₆ were measured in a wavelength range of 1.33–16.7 µm. Greatly enhanced light absorption of Ag films was observed in the entire measured wavelength range. For sample with 6–8 µm spikes, the absorptance is approximately 0.9 and essentially unchanged in the wavelength region of 1.33–10 µm, and decreases slightly when λ > 10 µm, but keeps higher than 0.75 over the whole measured wavelength range. The infrared absorption is strongly related to the height and density of the spikes. While for the samples without Ag coating, the absorption is much lower than that of the Ag films. Multiple reflection of light between spikes and surface plasmon excitation of nano-particles on the spikes surface may lead to the strongly enhanced infrared absorption in such a wide wavelength range.     

Synthesis of ultra-small silicon nanoparticles by femtosecond laser ablation of porous silicon

We report a detailed study on the synthesis of ultra-small (1–10 nm) colloidal silicon nanoparticles (Si NPs) by ablating porous silicon (pSi) in acetone using femtosecond laser pulses. Porous silicon is considered as a target material for ablation because it contains a large number of light emitting silicon nanoparticles. The pSi samples were prepared by anodic etching of silicon in aqueous HF solution for different etching current densities. Transmission electron microscope measurements confirmed the successful formation of well-isolated spherical silicon nanoparticles. The average size of spherical NPs were estimated to be ~7.6, ~7, and ~6 nm when anodic etching current densities of 5, 10, and 20 mA/cm² were used respectively for preparing pSi targets. The crystallinity of these Si NPs was confirmed by selective area electron diffraction and Raman spectroscopy measurements. The observed blue shift in the absorption and emission spectra are attributed to reduction in the average particle size with increase in etching current density. These Si NPs may be useful for fabricating low-dimensional microelectronic compatible photonic devices.     

Optical properties of waveguides fabricated in fused silica by femtosecond laser pulses

With tightly focused femtosecond laser pulses, waveguides are fabricated in fused silica. The guiding and attenuation properties of these waveguides at wavelengths of 514 nm and 1.5 microm are studied. We demonstrate that by changing only the writing speed, waveguides with a controllable mode number can be produced.     

Application of femtosecond laser pulses in biomedical cell technologies

The results are presented of the works in the field of development of equipment, investigation techniques, and technologies for biology and medicine performed in the Joint Institute for High Temperatures of the Russian Academy of Scienses (JIHT RAS). On the base of the new generation infrared femtosecond lasers, the experimental models are developed and manufactured of laser tweezers, scalpel, and the “tweezers-scalpel” combined system. The results are presented of the experimental studies on the noncontact mammalian cell fusion (blastomeres of mouse embryos on day 1.5 of development) by means of the femtosecond laser pulses.     

Temperature alterations of infrared light absorption by cartilage and cornea under free-electron laser radiation

Like pure water, the water incorporated into cartilage and cornea tissue shows a pronounced dependence of the absorption coefficient on temperature. Alteration of the temperature by radiation with an IR free-electron laser was studied by use of a pulsed photothermal radiometric technique. A computation algorithm was modified to take into account the real IR absorption spectra of the tissue and the spectral sensitivity of the IR detector used. The absorption coefficients for several wavelengths within the 2.9- and 6.1-microm water absorption bands have been determined for various laser pulse energies. It is shown that the absorption coefficient for cartilage decreases at temperatures higher than 50 degrees C owing to thermal alterations of water-water and water-biopolymer interactions.     

Time integrated detection of femtosecond laser pulses scattered by small droplets

Scattering of femtosecond laser pulses by small droplets has been measured and compared with predictions, yielding some interesting new applications for time integrated detection of the scattered field. The scattering intensity of integrated detection becomes monotonic with droplet size over large regions of scattering angle and morphology dependent resonances are surpressed, opening the way for particle sizing using the scattered intensity. Furthermore, the ripple structure no longer appears in the rainbow region of scattering, simplifying rainbow refractometry significantly. These scattering proporties of femtosecond laser pulses have been demonstrated in the laboratory using a novel Paul trap for levitating single droplets.     

Two-photon fluorescence excitation spectroscopy by pulse shaping ultrabroad-bandwidth femtosecond laser pulses

A fast and automated approach to measuring two-photon fluorescence excitation (TPE) spectra of fluorophores with high resolution (~2 nm) by pulse shaping ultrabroad-bandwidth femtosecond laser pulses is demonstrated. Selective excitation in the range of 675-990 nm was achieved by imposing a series of specially designed phase and amplitude masks on the excitation pulses using a pulse shaper. The method eliminates the need for laser tuning and is, thus, suitable for non-laser-expert use. The TPE spectrum of Fluorescein was compared with independent measurements and the spectra of the pH-sensitive dye 8-hydroxypyrene-1,3,6-trisulfonic acid (HPTS) in acidic and basic environments were measured for the first time using this approach.     

Distribution of the microcrystallites generated in borate glass irradiated by femtosecond laser pulses

This paper deals with the distribution of generated microcrystallites in borate glass irradiated by 120 fs laser pulses at a central wavelength of 800 nm. Raman spectroscopy is used to investigate the distribution of the high and low temperature phases of barium metaborate crystals generated in the borate glass. In combination with a microexplosion model, bond-breaking induced by laser irradiation is served as the origin of the formation of BBO crystals. Depending on the laser fluence and cooling conditions, the distribution mechanisms have been discussed.     

Near-infrared absorption enhancement in microstructured silicon by Ag film deposition

We investigate the influence of spike-like microstructures formed on the silicon surface via fs-laser scanning with different-size on its near-infrared absorption from 1200 to 2500 nm. Although the infrared absorption of the small size microstructures is obviously lower than the large size, it can be further improved to 90 % by a large amount of random and irregular Ag nano particles from a subsequent deposition of Ag thin film. The origins of absorption enhancement are discussed and theoretically analyzed in detail.     

Noncrystalline micromachining of amorphous alloys using femtosecond laser pulses

Femtosecond laser micromachining of a Zr-based amorphous alloy in air, including measuring the ablation threshold, micro-drilling and trenching, was investigated. The threshold of ablating this amorphous alloy was determined by experiment. Laser-induced ablation and associated damage were examined by means of optical microscope, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and electron diffraction diagram. The results show that conventional processing method induced defects in the vicinity of machined area, such as crystallization, molten trace and spatter, were absent in femtosecond laser ablation area with selected parameters. This indicates that femtosecond laser ablation is a promising method for micromachining amorphous alloys without crystallization.