Femtosecond Laser Micro/Nano-manufacturing: Theories, Measurements, Methods, and Applications

TLDR

Femtosecond laser fabrication has become a leading extreme manufacturing technique because its ultrahigh energy density and ultrafast temporal and spatial scales produce distinct nonlinear, nonequilibrium interactions that enable manipulation of electron dynamics and support new concepts for micro/nano fabrication, chemical synthesis, material processing, quantum control, and related fields. This review seeks to examine cutting‑edge theories, methods, measurements, and applications of femtosecond lasers in micro/nano‑manufacturing, with a focus on uncovering electronic‑level fabrication mechanisms and precisely regulating electron dynamics to drive future development. The authors analyze femtosecond laser–material interactions at the electronic level, employing theoretical, experimental, and measurement approaches to control electron dynamics and thereby optimize micro/nano‑manufacturing processes.

Abstract

Abstract Femtosecond laser fabrication has grown to be a major method of extreme manufacturing because of the extreme energy density and spatial and temporal scales of femtosecond lasers. The physical effects and the mechanism of interaction between femtosecond lasers and materials are distinct from those in traditional processes. The nonlinear and nonequilibrium effects of the interaction have given rise to new concepts, principles, and methods, such as femtosecond pulse durations are shorter than many physical/chemical characteristic times, which permits manipulating, adjusting, or interfering with electron dynamics. These new concepts and methods have broad application prospects in micro/nanofabrication, chemical synthesis, material processing, quantum control, and other related fields. This review discusses the cutting-edge theories, methods, measurements, and applications of femtosecond lasers to micro/nano-manufacturing. The key to future development of femtosecond laser manufacturing lies in revealing its fabrication mechanism from the electronic level and precisely regulating the electronic dynamics.