Surface Micro-Structuring of Silica Glass by Laser-Induced Backside Wet Etching with ns-Pulsed UV Laser at a High Repetition Rate

Surface micro-structuring of silica glass plates was performed by using laser-induced backside wet etching (LIBWE) upon irradiation with a single-mode laser beam from a diode-pumped solidstate UV laser at 266 nm. We have succeeded in a well-defined micro-pattern formation without debris and microcrack formations around the etched area on the basis of galvanometer-based point scanning system with the laser beam. The behavior of liquid ablation (explosive vaporization) was monitored by impulse pressure detection with a fast-response piezoelectric pressure gauge. LIBWE method is suitable for rapid prototyping and rapid manufacturing of surface microstructuing of silica glass as mask-less exposure system in a conventional atmospheric environment.