Ultrashort high repetition rate exposure of dielectric materials: laser bonding of glasses analyzed by micro-Raman spectroscopy

We report on the joining of different glass types with dissimilar optical, thermal and mechanical properties by ultrashort laser welding at high repetition rates. Femtosecond laser pulses were focused at the interface of two optically contacted transparent samples. Using nonlinear absorption processes and heat accumulation of successive pulses, we achieved strong bonds between the samples. We used a three-point bending test to determine the breaking strength. With this technique, we achieved for instance for a borosilicate glass a breaking strength of up to 95 % of the bulk material. In addition, we even welded different material combinations. Although the welded glasses exhibit different thermal and mechanical properties, we obtained breaking strengths which are comparable to the utilized bulk materials. Using Raman spectroscopy we mapped the laser-processed material along the welded interface. Thereby, we determined that the welds consist of a mixture of both species, which is formed during the laser induced melting of the materials.