Time-resolved study of fs laser-induced plasma in bulk a-SiO2

When focusing an ultrashort laser pulse inside a transparent material, a permanent alteration of the (complex) refractive index takes place in the irradiated region. In the tight focusing regime, a precise control over the energy deposition can be achieved. Based on this principle, point by point fabrication of embedded microoptical systems has been demonstrated in the bulk of amorphous fused silica (a-SiO2). Although the permanent laser-induced structural changes are starting to be known, the mechanisms underlying material modification are not completely understood. A widely accepted scenario of the laser-matter interaction still has to be elaborated. Specifically, the identification and the relative importance of localized and delocalized energy relaxation channels are under debate. The laser energy is coupled into the material through free carriers generated via photoionization mechanisms. Our goal is to study the energy transfer from the free carriers to the bulky material by measuring the time-resolv...