Ultrashort-pulsed laser processing with spatial and temporal beam shaping using a spatial light modulator and burst modes

We report on the effect of simultaneous spatial and temporal beam shaping on the ablation rate, ablation efficiency and the resulting surface characteristics of micromachined stainless steel using ultrashort-pulsed lasers. Beam shaping and the use of pulse bursts are promising methods to allocate the over the last decades increasing laser power of ultrashort-pulsed lasers in ablation processes. While the individual effects of beam shaping and pulse bursts on the ablation characteristics have recently been examined, the combination of both has not yet been adequately investigated. Using a spatial light modulator to generate different spot distributions with up to six spots and different separations it is possible to spatially distribute the available laser power. In combination with temporal beam shaping using a 200 kHz repetition rate and pulse bursts with a 40 MHz intra-burst rate, we investigate the influences in a scanning-based process and find an increasing ablation rate and efficiency for higher fluences. Subsequently using bursts in combination with a multi-spot beam profile, we found a distinctive emergence of cone like protrusions and a smoothing effect for fluences between 1.5 J/cm² and 3 J/cm² with six spot beam profile.

Effects of Pulse Duration and Heat on Laser-Induced Periodic Surface Structures

Compared with traditional nanotexturing methods, an ultrashort-pulsed laser is an efficient technology of fabricating nanostructures called laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) on material surfaces. LIPSS are easily fabricated when the pulse duration is shorter than collisional relaxation time (CRT). Accordingly, ultrashort-pulsed lasers have been mainly used to study LIPSS, but they unstably irradiate while requiring high costs. Although long-pulsed lasers have low cost and high stability, the phenomena (such as the effect of pulse duration, laser wavelength, and heat) of the LIPSS fabricated using short-pulsed lasers with the pulse duration close to the maximum CRT, which is greater than femtosecond, have not been clarified. However, the nanosecond pulse laser has been reported to produce LIPSS, but those were unclear and ununiform. In this study, the short-pulsed laser with the pulse duration of 20 ps, which is close to the maximum CRT, was employed to clarify the effects of pulse duration and heat on the fabrication of LIPSS and to solve problems associated with ultrashort-pulsed lasers. First, a finite-difference time-domain simulation was developed at 20-ps pulse duration to investigate the effects of irradiation conditions on the electric-field-intensity distribution. Subsequently, experiments were conducted using the 20-ps pulse laser by varying conditions. The aspect ratio of the LIPSS obtained was greater than that of the LIPSS fabricated using ultrashort-pulsed lasers, but LIPSS were not fabricated at 355- and 266-nm laser wavelength. In addition, the short-pulsed laser experienced thermal influences and a cooling material was effective for the fabrication of LIPSS with high-aspect-ratio. This demonstrates the effects of pulse duration close to the CRT and heat on the fabrication of LIPSS.

Effect of Crystal Structure on Fabrication of Fine Periodic Surface Structures with Short Pulsed Laser

In recent years, nanostructures have been required for industry and medical services, to perform functions such as reduction in friction, control of wettability, and enhancement in biological affinity. Ultrashort pulsed lasers have been applied to meet these demands, and have been actively studied both experimentally and theoretically in terms of phenomena and principles. In this study, to clarify the phenomenon of the fabrication of laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS), and its application to industry, experiments were conducted on SUS304, titanium, and nickel-phosphorus by a short pulsed laser that has a longer pulse duration, higher cost-effectiveness, and higher stability than ultrashort pulsed lasers. The results confirmed that while LIPSS were fabricated on Ti and Ni-P workpieces, a uniform fine periodic structure was not fabricated on the whole irradiated surface of SUS304, and crystal grain boundaries appeared with low energy density and irradiation number because SUS304 is an alloy composed of Fe, Cr, and Ni. Further, the short pulsed laser has a low power and long pulse duration, inducing the thermal effect. We clarified the effect of crystal structure on fabricating fine periodic surface structures with short pulsed laser.