Subsurface precision machining of glass substrates by innovative lasers

Abstract

At very high laser intensities, achieved with modern, diode-pumped solid state lasers having high beam quality and high pulse power, even transparent materials such as glass can be easily machined with high efficiency and precision. Examples are given by the subsurface engraving, the cutting and the drilling of glass, where the physical effect of nonlinear absorption in transparent media is used. This enables machining processes and results which are not feasible with any other tool known before.