Temporal pulse shaping and optimization in ultrafast laser ablation of materials

The possibility of phase manipulation and temporal tailoring of ultrashort laser pulses enables new opportunities for optimal processing of materials. Phase-manipulated ultrafast laser pulses allow adapting the laser energy delivery rate to the material properties for optimal processing laying the groundwork for adaptive optimization in materials structuring. Different materials respond with specific reaction pathways to the sudden energy input depending on the efficiency of electron generation and on the ability to release the energy into the lattice. The sequential energy delivery with judiciously chosen pulse trains may induce softening of the material during the initial steps of excitation and change the energy coupling for the subsequent steps. We show that this can result in lower stress, cleaner structures, and allow for a material-dependent optimization process.