Pulsed laser induced spontaneous gratings on a surface of azobenzene polymer

Self-organized spontaneous gratings were induced on a surface of azobenzene polymer by an irradiation of frequency doubled neodymium doped yttrium-aluminum-garnet pulsed laser. Irradiation of uniform single laser beam at normal incidence induced periodic line shaped structures on a polymer surface. The structure is so-called laser induced periodic surface structure (LIPSS) which was formed along the direction parallel to the polarization direction of pulsed laser. The LIPSS was formed above the critical thickness around 60 nm. Irradiation of s-polarized holographic interference beams induced the distinguished holographic surface relief grating (SRG) structures. Irradiation of p-polarized holographic interference beams induced egg crate-like (ECL) structures. A combination of holographic SRG and sequential LIPSS is the likely cause of the ECL patterns observed in this work. (C) 2004 American Institute of Physics.