title: Oscillation of the refractive index at the focal region of a femtosecond laser pulse inside a glass.
abstract: The temporal evolution of refractive-index change produced by a tightly focused femtosecond (fs) laser pulse inside a soda-lime glass plate was investigated by use of a transient lens method with subpicosecond time resolution. An oscillating behavior of the light intensity in the central region of the probe beam was observed 0-1500 ps after irradiation of the plate. The oscillation was interpreted in terms of a rapid temperature increase and the ensuing propagation of the pressure wave. This study is to our knowledge the first real-time observation of refractive-index change inside a glass induced by a fs laser pulse.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan.
authors.forename: Masaaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sakakura
authors.forename: Masahide
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Terazima