Abstract

Studies on the interaction of high-energy ultra-short laser pulses with optically transparent media have led to the discovery of two major classes of phenomena. It has been shown that the interaction of single pulses with matter is essentially an intensity-dependent process and the ensuing material modification bears no signature of the light polarization. On the other hand, the material’s response to multiple pulse irradiation depends both on the intensity and polarization of the light field and leads to structured changes inside the material [1].

© 2011 Optical Society of America