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Paper des Monats
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Laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) are a universal phenomenon and can be generated on almost any material by irradiation with linearly polarized radiation. This chapter reviews the current state in the field of LIPSS, which are formed in a “self-ordered” way and are often accompanying materials processing applications. LIPSS can be produced in a single-stage process and enable surface nanostructuring and, in turn, adaption of optical, mechanical, and chemical surface properties. Typically, they feature a structural size ranging from several micrometers down to less than 100 nm and show a clear correlation with the polarization direction of the light used for their generation. Various types of LIPSS are classified, relevant control parameters are identified, and their material-specific formation mechanisms are analyzed for different types of inorganic solids, i.e., metals, semiconductors, and dielectrics. Finally, technological applications featuring surface functionalization in the fields of optics, fluidics, medicine, and tribology are discussed.
Laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) are a universal phenomenon and can be generated on almost any material by irradiation with linearly polarized radiation. This chapter reviews the current state in the field of LIPSS, which are formed in a “self-ordered” way and are often accompanying materials processing applications. LIPSS can be produced in a single-stage process and enable surface nanostructuring and, in turn, adaption of optical, mechanical, and chemical surface properties. Typically, they feature a structural size ranging from several micrometers down to less than 100 nm and show a clear correlation with the polarization direction of the light used for their generation. Various types of LIPSS are classified, relevant control parameters are identified, and their material-specific formation mechanisms are analyzed for different types of inorganic solids, i.e., metals, semiconductors, and dielectrics. Finally, technological applications featuring surface functionalization in the fields of optics, fluidics, medicine, and tribology are discussed.
Laser-induced damage threshold (LIDT) testing of oxide and metal coatings with sub-30 fs pulses
(2007)
Laser cleaning of delicate biological composite materials such as ancient parchment manuscripts from the 15th and 16th century and printed paper from the 19th century is demonstrated with an ultraviolet excimer pulsed laser at 308 nm. Laser fluence levels must stay below the ablation and destruction threshold of the parchment or paper substrate, and have to surpass the threshold of the contaminant matter. Foreign layers to be removed must exhibit a higher optical density than the artifact substrates. Synthetic carbonaceous dirt modelled by water-soluble black crayons showed a characteristically weak featureless laser-induced plasma spectroscopy spectrum near the noise limit. It turned out that laser-induced plasma spectroscopy is of limited use in monitoring halting points (or etch-stops) because it relies on the destruction not only of the laterally inhomogenously distributed contaminant but also of pigment phases on a microscopically rough parchment substrate. Laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy, however, promises to be a valuable non-destructive testing technique for etch-stop monitoring.
The exciting properties of micro- and nano-patterned surfaces found in natural species hide a virtually endless potential of technological ideas, opening new opportunities for innovation and exploitation in materials science and engineering. Due to the diversity of biomimetic surface functionalities, inspirations from natural surfaces are interesting for a broad range of applications in engineering, including phenomena of adhesion, friction, wear, lubrication, wetting phenomena, self-cleaning, antifouling, antibacterial phenomena, thermoregulation and optics. Lasers are increasingly proving to be promising tools for the precise and controlled structuring of materials at micro- and nano-scales. When ultrashort-pulsed lasers are used, the optimal interplay between laser and material parameters enables structuring down to the nanometer scale. Besides this, a unique aspect of laser processing technology is the possibility for material modifications at multiple (hierarchical) length scales, leading to the complex biomimetic micro- and nano-scale patterns, while adding a new dimension to structure optimization. This article reviews the current state of the art of laser processing methodologies, which are being used for the fabrication of bioinspired artificial surfaces to realize extraordinary wetting, optical, mechanical, and biological-active properties for numerous applications. The innovative aspect of laser functionalized biomimetic surfaces for a wide variety of current and future applications is particularly demonstrated and discussed. The article concludes with illustrating the wealth of arising possibilities and the number of new laser micro/nano fabrication approaches for obtaining complex high-resolution features, which prescribe a future where control of structures and subsequent functionalities are beyond our current imagination.
This contribution compares traditional cleaning and laser methods. Partial laser cleaning with a nanosecond pulse laser (wavelength of 532 nm) has proved very promising for future application in paper conservation-restoration. Traditional cleaning methods are not always sufficient or successful in surface cleaning of objects of art. Comparative studies of traditional paper cleaning methods and laser cleaning were made on several historic picture postcards printed with the chromolithography technique.
Laser cleaning for works of art on paper might be a supplemental, noncontact method to overcome some of the limitations of traditional dry cleaning techniques. Three different types of paper (pure-cellulose filter paper, rag paper, and wood-pulp paper) were mechanically soiled with pulverized charcoal in a standardized procedure to make model samples. These samples were characterized microscopically and by means of lightness measurements using a multi-spectral imaging system. A prototype laser workstation with Laser Class I conditions for the operator was used for the cleaning experiments. For 10-ns laser pulses at a wavelength of 532 nm, a set of laser parameters was established for a successful cleaning of the samples avoiding damage to the paper substrate. Single- and multi-pulse illumination conditions were tested. An extensive microscopic analysis after laser treatment of the cleaned parts of the samples provided insight into the remaining soiling on the surface and in the bulk of the paper material.
The ultrafast laser ablation of silicon has been investigated experimentally and theoretically. The theoretical description is based on molecular dynamics (MD) simulations combined with a microscopic electronic model. We determine the thresholds of melting and ablation for two different pulse durations =20 and 500 fs. Experiments have been performed using 100 Ti:Sap-phire laser pulses per spot in air environment. The ablation thresholds were determined for pulses with a duration of 25 and 400 fs, respectively. Good agreement is obtained between theory and experiment.
KrF excimer laser ablation of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyimide (PI) and polycarbonate (PC) in air was studied by an in situ monitoring technique using a microphone. The microphone signal generated by a short acoustic pulse represented the etch rate of laser ablation depending on the laser fluence, i.e., the ablation strength. From a linear relationship between the microphone output voltage and the laser fluence, the single-pulse ablation thresholds were found to be 30 mJ cm-2 for PET, 37 mJ cm-2 for PI and 51 mJ cm-2 for PC (20-pulses threshold). The ablation thresholds of PET and PI were not influenced by the number of pulses per spot, while PC showed an incubation phenomenon. A microphone technique provides a simple method to determine the excimer laser ablation threshold of polymer films.
The laser ablation behaviour of ion-doped glass filter materials under irradiation with femtosecond laser pulses was investigated with respect to spot size and repetition rate. The damage threshold fluence of Schott BG18 depends on the size of the irradiated area. The effect is discussed in terms of a defect-site model.
High-power optical multimode fibers are essential components for materials processing
and surgery and can limit the reliability of expensive systems due to breakdown at the end faces.
The breakdown threshold of fibers is determined by intrinsic materials properties and parameters of
the technology applied. The aim of this paper is the identification of technological parameters that
are crucial for the fiber quality.
Fibers were drawn from preforms of Heraeus SWU with core material F300 and a low amount of
OH-. Both, the cladding (fluorine doped SiO2) to core diameter ratio (CCDR) and the drawing speed
were varied. CCDR values between 1.05 and 1.4 were used. Afterwards, the laser-induced damage
thresholds (LIDT) of the fibers were determined. For comparison, also samples from preforms,
which underwent different thermal treatments above the transition temperature, were tested with
respect to their damage resistivity. Single and multi pulse LIDT measurements were done in
accordance with the relevant ISO standards. Nd:YAG laser pulses with durations of 15 ns (1064 nm
wavelength) and 8.5 ns (532 nm) at a repetition rate of 10 Hz were utilized. For the fibers, LIDT
values (1-on-1, 1064 nm and 532 nm) increased with growing CCDR and with decreasing drawing
velocities.
Optical multimode fibers made of fused silica are widely used for transmission of high power laser pulses. Bending of fibers creates mechanical stress inside the material. The bend stress of a fiber can be calculated from bend radius, geometrical fiber parameters and Young's Modulus of the fiber core material and reaches typically values of 220 MPa. A thermo-elastic model of Kusov et al. predicts a quadratic dependence of laser-induced damage threshold fluence with applied stress.
In the present study, fiber preform material F300 (Heraeus) was loaded mechanically with pressures up to 220 MPa representing 20% of the pressure resistance of fused silica. Bulk laser-induced damage thresholds (LIDT) were evaluated using a longitudinal multimode Q-switched Nd:YAG laser (1064 nm) at a pulse duration of 12 ns with polarization states parallel and perpendicular to the stress direction. LIDT of fused silica samples of about 700 J/cm2 were found. LIDT did not show a dependence on mechanical pressure and polarization state which is a consequence of the small ratio of maximum applied stress (220 MPa) to Young's Modulus of fused silica (72.5 GPa).
Single-pulse damage thresholds of hydrogenated amorphous carbon (a-C:H) films were measured for 8-ns laser pulses at 532-nm wavelength. Layer thicknesses from below the optical penetration depth to above the thermal diffusion length (60 nm13 µm) were examined. After correction of the damage-threshold values for the fraction of energy effectively absorbed by the material, the damage threshold was found to increase linearly with the layer thickness, also for film thicknesses below the optical penetration depth of a-C:H. The threshold fluence reached the bulk value for a layer thickness equal to the thermal diffusion length. The thermal diffusion coefficient was obtained from fitting the experimental data. Several phenomena like graphitization, blistering, exfoliation, and ablation were observed for different fluence regimes and film thicknesses.
Hydrogenated amorphous carbon layers were deposited on BK7 glass in a plasma-assisted chemical vapor deposition
process. Low and high refracting films with thicknesses d ranging from 11 nm to 5.8 µm were produced having refractive
indices n between 1.68 and 2.41 and linear absorption coefficients of α~100 cm-1 and α~20000 cm-1 at 800 nm wavelength as a result of different plasma modes. Laser ablation thresholds Fth in dependence on d were determined using 30-fs laser pulses. Low absorbing layers show a constant Fth while Fth increases with rising d up to the optical penetration depth of light α-1 for high absorbing films.
Biofilm formation poses high risks in multiple industrial and medical settings. However, the robust nature of biofilms makes them also attractive for industrial applications where cell biocatalysts are increasingly in use. Since tailoring material properties that affect bacterial growth or its inhibition is gaining attention, here we focus on the effects of femtosecond laser produced nanostructures on bacterial adhesion. Large area periodic surface structures were generated on steel surfaces using 30-fs laser pulses at 790 nm wavelength. Two types of steel exhibiting a different corrosion resistance were used, i.e., a plain structural steel (corrodible) and a stainless steel (resistant to corrosion). Homogeneous fields of laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) were realized utilizing laser fluences close to the ablation threshold while scanning the sample under the focused laser beam in a multi-pulse regime. The nanostructures were characterized with optical and scanning electron microscopy. For each type of steel, more than ten identical samples were laser-processed. Subsequently, the samples were subjected to microbial adhesion tests. Bacteria of different shape and adhesion behavior (Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus) were exposed to laser structures and to polished reference surfaces. Our results indicate that E. coli preferentially avoids adhesion to the LIPSS-covered areas, whereas S. aureus favors these areas for colonization.
Single and multi pulse laser-induced damage thresholds (LIDT) of core, cladding, and coating materials of high-power
optical multimode fibers were determined in accordance with ISO 11254 for 532 nm and 1064 nm wavelength in the 10-ns
pulse duration regime with spatial Gaussian beam shape. For all-silica fibers, LIDT increases with rising core diameter in a range between 100-600 µm for a constant cladding-core ratio of 1.2. The damage resistance of the low refracting cladding (0.3 % fluorine doped fused silica) is comparable to the undoped SiO2 core. Coating materials show significantly lower LIDT than light-guiding parts of the fibers.
Zusammenfassung
The threshold fluences for laser-induced damage of fused silica with single 5-fs pulses from a Ti:sapphire laser system were determined by extrapolating the ablated volume to zero. These thresholds are about 4 times as high as the values previously obtained from multi-shot experiments. This result is interpreted in terms of an irreversible modification of the original material below the single-shot threshold (incubation).
In situ second harmonic generation measurements during the electrodeposition of Ni on n-Si(111)
(1993)
The formation of laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) upon irradiation of silicon wafer surfaces by linearly polarized Ti:sapphire femtosecond laser pulses (pulse duration 130 fs, central wavelength 800 nm) is studied experimentally and theoretically. In the experiments, so-called low-spatial frequency LIPSS (LSFL) were found with periods smaller than the laser wavelength and an orientation perpendicular to the polarization. The experimental results are analyzed by means of a new theoretical approach, which combines the widely accepted LIPSS theory of Sipe et al. with a Drude model, in order to account for transient (intra-pulse) changes of the optical properties of the irradiated materials. It is found that the LSFL formation is caused by the excitation of surface plasmon polaritons, SPPs, once the initially semiconducting material turns to a metallic state upon formation of a dense free-electron-plasma in the material and the subsequent interference between its electrical field with that of the incident laser beam resulting in a spatially modulated energy deposition at the surface. Moreover, the influence of the laser-excited carrier density and the role of the feedback upon the multi-pulse irradiation and its relation to the excitation of SPP in a grating-like surface structure is discussed.
The selective emitter is a well-known technology for producing highly doped areas under the metallization grid to improve the solar cell performance. In this work, the influence of laser irradiation on phosphoric acid coated multicrystalline silicon PV-wafers on the wafer surface structure, the phosphorous depth distribution and the electrical contact resistance within the laser treated area as well as the electrical series resistance of laserprocessed solar cells was evaluated. Different laser processing settings were tested including pulsed and continuous wave (cw) laser sources (515 nm, 532 nm, 1064 nm wavelength). Complementary numerical simulations using the finite element method (FEM) were conducted to explain the impact of the laser parameters on the melting behavior (melt duration and geometry). It was found that the melt duration is a key parameter for a successful laser Doping process. Our simulations at a laser wavelengths of 515 nm reveal that low-repetition rate (<500 kHz) laser pulses of 300 ns duration generate a melt duration of ~0.35 µs, whereas upon scanning cw-laser radiation at 532 nm prolongates the melt duration by at least one order of magnitude. Experimentally, the widely used ns-laser pulses did not lead to satisfying laser irradiation results. In contrast, cw-laser radiation and scan velocities of less than 2 m/s led to suitable laser doping featuring low electrical resistances in the laser treated areas.
Herein, Ti6Al4V alloy is surface modified by femtosecond laser ablation. The microstructure image obtained by secondary electron microscopy reveals a combination of micrometer spikes or cones superimposed by nanoripples (laser‐induced periodic surface structures). To make the surface hydrophilic, anodization is performed resulting in further smoothness of microstructure and a final thickness of 35 ± 4 nm is estimated for oxide produced after anodization at 10 V (scan rate = 0.1 V s−1) versus standard hydrogen electrode. The obtained electrochemically active surface area (ECSA) is approximately 8 times larger compared with flat mirror polished Ti6Al4V surface. Combined chemical analysis by Pourbaix diagram and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses reveal that titanium and aluminum are passivating into TiO2 and Al2O3, but the dissolution of aluminum in the form of solvated ion is inevitable. Finally, cell seeding experiments on anodized and laser‐treated titanium alloy samples show that the growth of murine fibroblast cells is significantly suppressed due to unique surface texture of the laser‐treated and anodized titanium alloy sample.
Hydrogen-Containing Amorphous Carbon Layers as Optical Materials in the Near-IR Spectral Range
(2007)
Hydrogenated amorphous carbon layers were deposited on various substrates by means of a plasma CVD process with a RF substrate bias as well as an ECR plasma source. The optical properties of the a-C:H layers were obtained via spectroscopic ellipsometry and correlated with their mechanical and chemical properties. The layers from pure RF plasma exhibit a higher absorption constant in the visible spectral range and a higher refractive index. All layers are nearly transparent in the NIR spectral range making them candidates for optical thin layer systems. The laser damage behaviour of the a-C:H layers was investigated with ultrashort pulses. The damage thresholds were consistent with the absorption constants of the layers. Interesting damage morphologies were observed indicating a sensitivity of this experiment to sub-structures in the layer.
Hochleistungsfasern am Limit - Laserinduzierte Zerstörung als Einsatzgrenze bei Lichtwellenleitern
(2012)
Aufgrund der steigenden Anforderungen an Fasern für Hochleistungsanwendungen hat die Business Unit Fiber Optics der Leoni Gruppe gemeinsam mit der BAM Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung die Herausforderung angenommen, erstmalig die Zerstörschwellen eigener large core Spezialfasern zu untersuchen.
Because of the increasingly stringent requirements for fibers in high Performance applications, the Business Unit Fiber Optics of the Leoni Group and the German BAM Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing are jointly tackling the challenge of investigating the damage thresholds of selected large core special fibers for the first time.
Die Verleihung des Deutschen Zukunftspreises an ein Team zum Thema "Ultrakurzpulslaser für die industrielle Massenfertigung - Produzieren mit Lichtblitzen" im Jahr 2013 belegt die industrielle Relevanz des Ultrakurzpulslasereinsatzes in der Materialbearbeitung. Zunehmend werden weitere Anwendungen z.B. in der Mess- und Medizintechnik erschlossen. Femtosekunden-Laserpulse weisen prinzipbedingt ein breites Spektrum auf und besitzen bereits bei moderaten Pulsenergien extreme Pulsspitzenleistungen, womit über „konventionelle“ Laserquellen hinausgehende Herausforderungen an den Laserschutz entstehen. Die in entsprechenden Laserschutzbrillen verwendeten Laserschutzfilter müssen eine große spektrale Absorptionsbandbreite aufweisen und dürfen nicht aufschalten, d.h. keine induzierte Transmission zeigen. Im Vortrag soll dargestellt werden, dass Laserschutzfilter auf Glasbasis, die über ein breites Absorptionsspektrum verfügen, einen ausreichenden Schutz gegenüber fs-Laserstrahlung bieten, wohingegen Laserschutzfilter auf Polymerbasis eine induzierte spektrale Transmission bei steigender Energiedichte aufweisen können, was zu einem drastischen Verlust der Schutzfunktion führt.
Indium islands on molybdenum coated glass can be grown in ordered arrays by surface structuring using a femtosecond laser. The effect of varying the molybdenum coated glass substrate temperature and the indium deposition rate on island areal density, volume and geometry is investigated and evaluated in a physical vapor deposition (PVD) process. The joined impact of growth conditions and spacing of the femtosecond laser structured spots on the arrangement and morphology of indium islands is demonstrated. The results yield a deeper understanding of the island growth and its precise adjustment to industrial requirements, which is indispensable for a technological application of such structures at a high throughput, for instance as precursors for the preparation of Cu(In,Ga)Se2 micro concentrator solar cells.
Der Vortrag gibt einen Überblick zu ultrakurzen Laserpulsen, der Ultrakurzpulslaser-Materialbearbeitung und der dabei ggf. auftretenden unerwünschten Röntgenstrahlung. Es wird die Laserbearbeitung von technischen und biologischen Materialien diskutiert. Schutzmöglichkeiten gegenüber der Röntgenstrahlung werden erörtert.
The formation of laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) upon irradiation of fused silica with multiple irradiation sequences consisting of laser pulse pairs (50 fs single-pulse duration) of two different wavelengths (400 and 800 nm) is studied experimentally. Parallel polarized double-pulse sequences with a variable delay Δt between -10 and +10 ps and between the individual fs-laser pulses were used to investigate the LIPSS periods versus Δt. These two-color experiments reveal the importance of the ultrafast energy deposition to the silica surface by the first laser pulse for LIPSS formation. The second laser pulse subsequently reinforces the previously seeded spatial LIPSS frequencies.
The formation of laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) upon irradiation of fused silica with multiple irradiation sequences of parallel polarized Ti:sapphire femtosecond laser pulse pairs (160 fs pulse duration, 800 nm central wavelength) was studied experimentally. For that purpose, a Michelson interferometer was used to generate near-equal-energy double-pulse sequences allowing the temporal pulse delay between the parallel-polarized individual fs-laser pulses to be varied between 0 and 40 ps with ~0.2 ps temporal resolution. The surface morphologies of the irradiated surface areas were characterized by means of scanning electron and scanning force microscopy. In the sub-ps delay range a strong decrease of the LIPSS periods and the ablation crater depths with the double-pulse delay was observed indicating the importance of the laser-induced free-electron plasma in the conduction band of the solids for the formation of LIPSS.
The formation of laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) upon irradiation of fused silica with multiple irradiation sequences consisting of five Ti:sapphire femtosecond (fs) laser pulse pairs (150 fs, 800 nm) is studied experimentally. A Michelson interferometer is used to generate near-equal-energy double-pulse sequences with a temporal pulse delay from -20 to +20 ps between the cross-polarized individual fs-laser pulses (~0.2 ps resolution). The results of multiple double-pulse irradiation sequences are characterized by means of Scanning Electron and Scanning Force Microscopy. Specifically in the sub-ps delay domain striking differences in the surface morphologies can be observed, indicating the importance of the laser-induced free-electron plasma in the conduction band of the solids for the formation of LIPSS.
The formation of laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) on different materials (silicon, fused silica, quartz) with linearly polarized fs-laser irradiation is studied experimentally. In dielectrics, the importance of transient excitation stages in the LIPSS formation is demonstrated by using (multiple) cross-polarized double-fs-laser-pulse irradiation sequences. A characteristic decrease of the spatial LIPSS periods is observed for double-pulse delays of less than 2 ps along with a characteristic 90°-rotation of the LIPSS orientation.
Bone implants made of metal, often titanium or the titanium alloy Ti6Al4V, need to be surface treated to become bioactive. This enables the formation of a firm and durable connection of the prosthesis with the living bone. We present a new method to uniformly cover Ti6Al4V with a thin layer of ceramics that imitates bone material. These calcium alkali phosphates, called GB14 and Ca10, are applied to the metal by dip coating of metal plates into an aqueous slurry containing the fine ceramic powder. The dried samples are illuminated with the 790 nm radiation of a pulsed femtosecond laser. If the laser fluence is set to a value just below the ablation threshold of the ceramic (ca. 0.4 J/cm²) the 30 fs laser pulses penetrate the partly transparent ceramic layer of 20–40 µm thickness. The remaining laser fluence at the ceramic–metal interface is still high enough to generate a thin metal melt layer leading to the ceramic fixation on the metal. The laser processing step is only possible because Ti6Al4V has a lower ablation threshold (between 0.1 and 0.15 J/cm²) than the ceramic material. After laser treatment in a fluence range between 0.1 and 0.4 J/cm², only the particles in contact with the metal withstand a post-laser treatment (ultrasonic cleaning). The non-irradiated rest of the layer is washed off. In this work, we present results of a successful ceramic fixation extending over larger areas. This is fundamental for future applications of arbitrarily shaped implants.
High-power lasers in industrial and R & D applications raise the general problem of reliability and degradation of optical components. A systematic study of nonlinear interaction of various transparent dielectric materials as e.g. glasses, fused silica, and polymers, with laser-pulses in the intensity range of up to 1013 W cm-2 is presented. On the other hand, femtosecond-pulse laser processing in the visible spectral range (300 fs; 620 nm, ~ 2 eV) allows precise microstructuring of transparent dielectrics without disruption of the remnant material. Damage and ablation threshold fluences occur above 1.2 J cm-2 at both silicate glasses and fused silica. Two different photon absorption mechanisms have been observed. The first occurs during the initial laser pulses in the incubation range. There, multiphoton absorption results in moderate energy volume densities. These are sufficient to generate morphological changes and optically active defect sites (colour centres) which provide a much higher absorptivity relevant for the second mechanism. It results in gasification without participation of melt.
Summary form only given. Machining investigations of crystalline silicon have been performed with laser pulses at a wavelength of 780 nm in the range between 5 fs and 400 fs. Applying 100 pulses per spot, surface damage thresholds were determined by the measurement of the damage diameter. In this pulse duration regime, the threshold fluences were nearly constant. Single-pulse investigations with 5 fs pulses yielded a value of about 0.15 J cm-2 identical to the multi-pulse experiment. This is in contradiction to the behaviour of dielectrics where incubation effects alter the optical properties down to the 5 fs pulse regime. Employing laser pulses with a duration of 130 fs at a wavelength of 800 nm, single-pulse ablation thresholds of 0.23 J cm-2 and 0.16 J cm-2 were determined for Si and InP in air, respectively. The threshold fluence was calculated from the linear relation between the square of the diameters versus the logarithm of the laser fluences.