Micro- and nanostructuring of metal surfaces with polarized femtosecond laser pulses

Abstract

Under irradiation of the surface of metals with femtosecond laser pulses, periodic surface micro- and nanostructures have been obtained. The dependence of orientation inherent to formed structures on direction of the electric field related with the incident electromagnetic wave and type of polarization of this wave has been studied. Typically these laser-induced structures are perpendicular to the electric field of incident light and have period shorter than the laser wavelength. The structures oriented in parallel to the polarization vector with a longer period have been also revealed. The dependence of surface structure formation on the initial surface defects in metal has been found.

Keywords

• femtosecond laser pulses
• quasi-periodic surface structures
• surface plasmons
• circular polarization