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 the direction of the electric field related to the incident electromagnetic wave and the 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 a period shorter than the laser wavelength. The structures oriented in parallel to the polarization vector with a longer period have also been revealed. The dependence of surface structure formation on the initial surface defects in metal has been found.