Hierarchical Multi-Scale Coupled Periodical Photonic and Plasmonic Nanopatterns Inscribed by Femtosecond Laser Pulses in Lithium Niobate

The ultrafast interaction of tightly focused femtosecond laser pulses with bulk dielectric media in direct laser writing (inscription) regimes is known to proceed via complex multi-scale light, plasma and material modification nanopatterns, which are challenging for exploration owing to their mesoscopic, transient and buried character. In this study, we report on the first experimental demonstration, analysis and modeling of hierarchical multi-period coupled longitudinal and transverse nanogratings in bulk lithium niobate inscribed in the focal region by 1030 nm, 300 fs laser pulses in the recently proposed sub-filamentary laser inscription regime. The longitudinal Bragg-like topography nanogratings, possessing the laser-intensity-dependent periods approximate to 400 nm, consist of transverse birefringent nanogratings, which are perpendicular to the laser polarization and exhibit much smaller periods approximate to 160 nm. Our analysis and modeling support the photonic origin of the longitudinal nanogratings, appearing as prompt electromagnetic and corresponding ionization standing waves in the pre-focal region due to interference of the incident and plasma-reflected laser pulse parts. The transverse nanogratings could be assigned to the nanoscale material modification by interfacial plasmons, excited and interfered in the resulting longitudinal array of the plasma sheets in the bulk dielectric material. Our experimental findings provide strong support for our previously proposed mechanism of such hierarchical laser nanopatterning in bulk dielectrics, giving important insights into its crucial parameters and opening the way for directional harnessing of this technology.

Automated summary

This study presents the experimental demonstration, analysis and modeling of hierarchical multi-period nanogratings formed by sub-filamentary laser inscription in bulk lithium niobate. The longitudinal nanogratings are found to have laser-intensity-dependent periods of approximately 400 nm, while the transverse nanogratings have much smaller periods of approximately 160 nm. The photonic origin of the longitudinal nanogratings is supported by analysis and modeling, while the transverse nanogratings are attributed to nanoscale material modification by interfacial plasmons.