Surface patterning on periodicity of femtosecond laser-induced ripples

Properties of femtosecond laser-induced ripples on patterned metal surfaces are investigated through using a crossed two-step line-scribing method. It is found that the ripple periodicity tends to decrease with larger surface roughness but increase with higher laser fluence. For the increased roughness, the change in ripple periodicity becomes more sensitive to the incident laser fluence. A cut-off surface roughness that prevents from altering the ripple periodicity is also revealed to increase with the lower laser fluence. These phenomena are discussed in the view of surface plasmon polaritons in the laser-induced plasma and the modified dielectric constant of the roughened surfaces. (C) 2010 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3495785]