A New Insight into High-Aspect-Ratio Channel Drilling in Translucent Dielectrics with a KrF Laser for Waveguide...

Area of Science:

• Laser Physics
• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• High aspect ratio capillary channels are crucial for various applications.
• Understanding laser-matter interactions in transparent materials is challenging.
• Existing methods for channel fabrication have limitations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the mechanism of capillary channel formation in translucent matter using nanosecond UV laser pulses.
• To explore laser beam filamentation and its role in ablation.
• To demonstrate a similar mechanism in highly transparent media.

Main Methods:

• Experimental multi-pulse drilling of polymethyl methacrylate and K8 silica glass using KrF laser.
• Analysis of laser beam filamentation and material densification.
• Investigation of multiphoton absorption in KU-1 glass.

Main Results:

• A self-consistent mechanism involving laser beam filamentation and filamentation-assisted ablation was proposed.
• This mechanism was observed in both polymethyl methacrylate and K8 silica glass.
• A similar process, initiated by multiphoton absorption, was identified in KU-1 glass.

Conclusions:

• Nanosecond UV laser pulses can effectively create high aspect ratio capillary channels.
• Laser beam filamentation plays a key role in the proposed ablation mechanism.
• The findings have implications for laser-driven electron acceleration and pulse compression.