During laser processing the spatial coherence and polarization properties typically impress spatially periodic structures on the surface of many materials, which are discussed on the base of electrodynamics, spatial spectra, kinetics and growth with respect to the dependance on angle of incidence, wavelength of laser, dispersion relation with polarization of light, multiple subthreshold illumination, and surface roughness. The spontaneous appearing periodic structures are generated by a runaway growth process with non homogeneous energy deposition as a consequence of interference effects at the surface and formation of capillary waves. As the surface condition obtained by conventional preparation techniques the photoninduced periodic surface structures strongly influence the energy coupling in breakdown phenomena and laser materials processsing.

Date Published: 21 October 1986
PDF: 8 pages
Proc. SPIE 0650, High Power Lasers and Their Industrial Applications, (21 October 1986); doi: 10.1117/12.938101

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 0650:
High Power Lasers and Their Industrial Applications
Dieter Schuoecker, Editor(s)