D. Vonderlinde et H. Schuler, BREAKDOWN THRESHOLD AND PLASMA FORMATION IN FEMTOSECOND LASER-SOLID INTERACTION, Journal of the Optical Society of America. B, Optical physics, 13(1), 1996, pp. 216-222
Combining femtosecond pump-probe techniques with optical microscopy, w
e have studied laser-induced optical breakdown in optically transparen
t solids with high temporal and spatial resolution. The threshold of p
lasma formation has been determined from measurements of the changes o
f the optical reflectivity associated with the developing plasma. It i
s shown that plasma generation occurs at the surface. We have observed
a remarkable resistance to optical breakdown and material damage in t
he interaction of femtosecond laser pulses with bulk optical materials
. (C) 1996 Optical Society of America