Laser beam alteration of workpiece optical properties

摘要

A method of altering the optical properties of a workpiece surface and/or interior involves energy supply onto and/or into a laser-transparent workpiece using a focussed laser beam having a pulse length of less than 100 ps and a power density of greater than 10<10> W/cm<2>, a vacuum being used when the optical properties of the workpiece surface are to be altered. Preferably, a mode-synchronised Q-switched solid state laser is used.