Laser microfabrication by ultrashort UV pulses

摘要

Recent advances of direct printing of elemental and compound microstructures by Laser Induced Forward Technique (LIFT) using a femtosecond UV laser will be presented. LIFT is a technique enabling the direct controlled transfer of thin film materials between substrates. For example an ultrashort UV laser has been used to transfer molecular material (e.g. InO{sub}x) onto glass substrates in order to form optical diffractive structures. The LIFT process enables reproduction of the metal and oxide's structural and physical properties. Subsequent ultraviolet illumination by a 325nm HeCd laser has induced dynamic refractive index changes of the InO{sub}x grating. This optical behavior is similar to the holographic recording behavior of InO{sub}x thin films. Similar experiments with metals and other molecular materials will be presented and discussed. The use of laser-based methods, in the fabrication of optically activated microstructures, opens new applications possibilities in the area of optoelectronics.