The influence of femtosecond pulses of Ti:sapphire laser on optical materials

Experimental results of influence of Ti:Sapphire laser pulses with duration of 50 fs and energy up to 12 mJ on different types of optical materials are presented. Threshold levels of radiation pulse action on condensed media were determined; a character of surface degradation was investigated. Differences in evolution of the interaction processes of radiation pulses of femtosecond and nanosecond durations were shown. The results of these investigations can be used both for laser technique design and development of new technologies of material processing. At the investigations, spectral-energy dependences of filamented laser pulse emission for various laser pulse energies were determined as well as spectral characteristics of supercontinuum formed output from transparent optical media. Prevail of short-wave spectrum wing of a supercontinuum was shown for condensed media. Dependence of supercontinuum energy on incident radiation energy was determined.