Self-formation of void array in Al2O3 crystal by femtosecond laser irradiation

The femtosecond laser induced void array inside Al2O3 crystals was discussed. The void array was formed spontaneously under the irradiation of a single beam of infrared femtosecond laser which was focused at a fixed point inside the Al2O3 crystal sample. It was found that the regular voids only could be fabricated near the sample surface, which was different from the situation in CaF2 single crystal reported before. The possible mechanism of the phenomena was also discussed.