Formation of gold grating structures on fused silica substrates by femtosecond laser irradiation

Abstract

Despite the attractive optical properties of gold nanostructures for emerging applications, the formation of sharp laser-induced periodic gold structures has not been reported. In this study, we experimentally demonstrate the formation of micro- and nanoscale periodic gold grating structures on fused silica substrates using a femtosecond laser. The experimental and calculated results show good agreement, indicating that the gold grating structures were formed by a beat formed in a gold thin film. We also propose that the beat was formed by interference of two surface plasmon polaritons with different periods excited in a gold thin film and calculated their periods.