Material response during nanosecond laser induced breakdown inside of the exit surface of fused silica

The material response following nanosecond, UV laser induced breakdown inside of the exit surface of fused silica is investigated using multimodal time resolved microscopy. The study spans up to about 75 ns delay from the onset of material modification during the laser pulse through the observation of material ejection. A number of distinct processes were identified, including: a) the onset of optical absorption in the material arising from the buildup of an electronic excitation, b) the expansion of the hot modified region (plasma) along the surface and inside the bulk, c) the formation of radial and circumferential cracks, d) the swelling of the affected region on the surface and, e) the onset of ejection of material clusters at about 30 ns delay and its progression to a well-defined jet by about 75 ns delay. Limited theoretical modeling is used to aid the interpretation of the data.

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