Laser surface structuring of diamond with ultrashort Bessel beams

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Laser Physics
• Surface Engineering

Background:

• Monocrystalline synthetic diamond is a crucial material for advanced applications.
• Precise surface modification techniques are needed to unlock diamond's full potential.
• Ultrafast laser machining offers high-resolution patterning capabilities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of ultrafast laser surface machining on synthetic diamond using pulsed Bessel beams.
• To analyze the influence of experimental parameters (beam cone angle, energy, pulse duration) on microstructure formation.
• To compare laser-machined microstructures in diamond with those in sapphire.

Main Methods:

• Utilized pulsed Bessel beams for surface machining of monocrystalline synthetic diamond.
• Varied experimental conditions including beam cone angle, laser energy, and pulse duration.
• Analyzed the resulting trench-like microstructures using microscopy and dimensional measurements.

Main Results:

• Generated V-shaped trenches with depths of 10-20 μm in diamond.
• Observed that trench surface width is dependent on the beam cone angle.
• Demonstrated the creation of pillar-like and tip-like microstructures by intersecting trenches.

Conclusions:

• Ultrafast laser machining with Bessel beams is effective for creating tailored microstructures on synthetic diamond.
• The generated microstructures show potential for applications in large surface functionalization, cell capture, and biosensing.
• The technique offers precise control over microstructure geometry for advanced material applications.