Microstructural modification of LiNbO3 crystals induced by femtosecond laser irradiation

At the focus region, either refractive index changes or material removal were observed by varying the irradiation conditions. The Raman spectrum shows in the illuminated regions the insurgence of Raman modes, which are forbidden in the used-scattering geometry. This phenomenon increases gradually by approaching the ablation region, where niobium oxides and Li-deficient surfaces are formed for the low energy and high repetition rate pulses from the Ti:Sapphire oscillator. Amorphous surfaces are obtained for high energy and low repetition rate pulses from the amplified Ti:Sapphire laser system.