Ultrashort pulse laser welding - a new approach for high-stability bonding of different glasses

Ultrashort laser pulses at high repetition rates may overcome the problems of conventional bonding methods. While focusing in transparent materials, the laser energy is deposited locally in the focal volume due to nonlinear absorption processes. Heat accumulation of successive laser pulses at high repetition rates leads to localized melting of the material. If the focus is set at the interface of two transparent samples, the subsequent resolidification finally yields strong and robust bonds. Using optimized processing parameters, we achieved a breaking strength, which is comparable to the bulk material. (C) 2012 Published by Elsevier B. V. Selection and/or review under responsibility of Bayerisches Laserzentrum GmbH