Interaction of UV laser light with wide band gap materials: Mechanisms and effects

The optical response of materials to light irradiation can be classified into two broad classes: intrinsic and extrinsic. Extrinsic effects, which are associated with the presence of impurities and structural defects in the material, are commonly invoked and demonstrated in insulators. At variance w...

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Published inNuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section B, Beam interactions with materials and atoms Vol. 141; no. 1; pp. 709 - 718
Main Author Pedraza, A.J.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Elsevier B.V 01.05.1998
Subjects
Excimer lasers
Insulators
Laser ablation
Laser materials
Laser radiation effects
Surface treatments
Laser radiation effects
Laser materials
Insulators
Surface treatments
Excimer lasers
Laser ablation
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Summary:The optical response of materials to light irradiation can be classified into two broad classes: intrinsic and extrinsic. Extrinsic effects, which are associated with the presence of impurities and structural defects in the material, are commonly invoked and demonstrated in insulators. At variance with semiconductors, insulators have a band gap that largely exceeds photon energies in the ultraviolet (UV) range. The interaction mechanisms responsible for the production of free carriers and defects in UV laser irradiated ceramics are discussed. The surface modifications that take place when the coupling between a ceramic and UV radiation results in heat generation are analyzed using Al 2O 3 as a model ceramic material. On the other hand, lack of heat evolution upon laser irradiation makes SiO 2 not amenable to surface modification effects similar to those produced in Al 2O 3. This lack of heat evolution, however, permits the use of laser irradiation for encapsulating metallic particles.
ISSN:0168-583X
1872-9584
DOI:10.1016/S0168-583X(98)00122-0