Effect of Pulse Repetition Rate on Ultrafast Laser-Induced Modification of Sodium Germanate Glass

We report an unexpected pulse repetition rate effect on ultrafast-laser modification of sodium germanate glass with the composition 22Na<sub>2</sub>O 78GeO<sub>2</sub>. While at a lower pulse repetition rate (~≤250 kHz), the inscription of nanogratings possessing form birefri...

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Main Authors: Sergey V. Lotarev, Sergey S. Fedotov, Alyona I. Pomigueva, Alexey S. Lipatiev, Vladimir N. Sigaev
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-03-01
Series:Nanomaterials
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/13/7/1208
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author Sergey V. Lotarev
Sergey S. Fedotov
Alyona I. Pomigueva
Alexey S. Lipatiev
Vladimir N. Sigaev
author_facet Sergey V. Lotarev
Sergey S. Fedotov
Alyona I. Pomigueva
Alexey S. Lipatiev
Vladimir N. Sigaev
author_sort Sergey V. Lotarev
collection DOAJ
description We report an unexpected pulse repetition rate effect on ultrafast-laser modification of sodium germanate glass with the composition 22Na<sub>2</sub>O 78GeO<sub>2</sub>. While at a lower pulse repetition rate (~≤250 kHz), the inscription of nanogratings possessing form birefringence is observed under series of 10<sup>5</sup>–10<sup>6</sup> pulses, a higher pulse repetition rate launches peripheral microcrystallization with precipitation of the Na<sub>2</sub>Ge<sub>4</sub>O<sub>9</sub> phase around the laser-exposed area due to the thermal effect of femtosecond pulses via cumulative heating. Depending on the pulse energy, the repetition rate ranges corresponding to nanograting formation and microcrystallization can overlap or be separated from each other. Regardless of crystallization, the unusual growth of optical retardance in the nanogratings with the pulse repetition rate starting from a certain threshold has been revealed instead of a gradual decrease in retardance with the pulse repetition rate earlier reported for some other glasses. The repetition rate threshold of the retardance growth is shown to be inversely related to the pulse energy and to vary from ~70 to 200 kHz in the studied energy range. This effect can be presumably assigned to the chemical composition shift due to the thermal diffusion of sodium cations occurring at higher pulse repetition rates when the thermal effect of the ultrashort laser pulses becomes noticeable.
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spelling doaj.art-c6d967db5683445d891124d75fb452cc2023-11-17T17:17:15ZengMDPI AGNanomaterials2079-49912023-03-01137120810.3390/nano13071208Effect of Pulse Repetition Rate on Ultrafast Laser-Induced Modification of Sodium Germanate GlassSergey V. Lotarev0Sergey S. Fedotov1Alyona I. Pomigueva2Alexey S. Lipatiev3Vladimir N. Sigaev4Department of Glass and Glass-Ceramics, Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology, Miusskaya pl. 9, 125047 Moscow, RussiaDepartment of Glass and Glass-Ceramics, Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology, Miusskaya pl. 9, 125047 Moscow, RussiaDepartment of Glass and Glass-Ceramics, Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology, Miusskaya pl. 9, 125047 Moscow, RussiaDepartment of Glass and Glass-Ceramics, Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology, Miusskaya pl. 9, 125047 Moscow, RussiaDepartment of Glass and Glass-Ceramics, Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology, Miusskaya pl. 9, 125047 Moscow, RussiaWe report an unexpected pulse repetition rate effect on ultrafast-laser modification of sodium germanate glass with the composition 22Na<sub>2</sub>O 78GeO<sub>2</sub>. While at a lower pulse repetition rate (~≤250 kHz), the inscription of nanogratings possessing form birefringence is observed under series of 10<sup>5</sup>–10<sup>6</sup> pulses, a higher pulse repetition rate launches peripheral microcrystallization with precipitation of the Na<sub>2</sub>Ge<sub>4</sub>O<sub>9</sub> phase around the laser-exposed area due to the thermal effect of femtosecond pulses via cumulative heating. Depending on the pulse energy, the repetition rate ranges corresponding to nanograting formation and microcrystallization can overlap or be separated from each other. Regardless of crystallization, the unusual growth of optical retardance in the nanogratings with the pulse repetition rate starting from a certain threshold has been revealed instead of a gradual decrease in retardance with the pulse repetition rate earlier reported for some other glasses. The repetition rate threshold of the retardance growth is shown to be inversely related to the pulse energy and to vary from ~70 to 200 kHz in the studied energy range. This effect can be presumably assigned to the chemical composition shift due to the thermal diffusion of sodium cations occurring at higher pulse repetition rates when the thermal effect of the ultrashort laser pulses becomes noticeable.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/13/7/1208sodium germanate glassnanogratingform birefringencelaser-induced crystallizationultrashort laser pulses
spellingShingle Sergey V. Lotarev
Sergey S. Fedotov
Alyona I. Pomigueva
Alexey S. Lipatiev
Vladimir N. Sigaev
Effect of Pulse Repetition Rate on Ultrafast Laser-Induced Modification of Sodium Germanate Glass
Nanomaterials
sodium germanate glass
nanograting
form birefringence
laser-induced crystallization
ultrashort laser pulses
title Effect of Pulse Repetition Rate on Ultrafast Laser-Induced Modification of Sodium Germanate Glass
title_full Effect of Pulse Repetition Rate on Ultrafast Laser-Induced Modification of Sodium Germanate Glass
title_fullStr Effect of Pulse Repetition Rate on Ultrafast Laser-Induced Modification of Sodium Germanate Glass
title_full_unstemmed Effect of Pulse Repetition Rate on Ultrafast Laser-Induced Modification of Sodium Germanate Glass
title_short Effect of Pulse Repetition Rate on Ultrafast Laser-Induced Modification of Sodium Germanate Glass
title_sort effect of pulse repetition rate on ultrafast laser induced modification of sodium germanate glass
topic sodium germanate glass
nanograting
form birefringence
laser-induced crystallization
ultrashort laser pulses
url https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/13/7/1208
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