Micromachining of Solid Materials Surfaces in a Mode of Filamentation of Femtosecond Laser Radiation

Abstract

This work is devoted to the study of the phenomenon of filamentation of femtosecond laser radiation observed during the propagation of high power density radiation in transparent media. An experimental setup used to generate filaments in air and inside an optically transparent solid medium is shown. Images of obtained filaments of various lengths, as well as the dynamics of their development, are presented in form of graphic materials. The use of laser filaments as a material processing tool provides surface structuring with the formation of a combined micro- and nanoscale relief. The paper shows the application of the above-described processing method by the example of stainless steel surface structuring.