Analysis of strained surface layers of ZnO single crystals after irradiation with intense femtosecond laser pulses

Structural modifications of ZnO single crystals that were created by the irradiation with femtosecond laser pulses at fluences far above the ablation threshold were investigated with micro-Raman spectroscopy. After light-matter interaction on the femtosecond time scale, rapid cooling and the pronounced thermal expansion anisotropy of ZnO are likely to cause residual strains of up to 1.8% and also result in the formation of surface cracks. This process relaxes the strain only partially and a strained surface layer remains. Our findings demonstrate the significant role of thermoelastic effects for the irradiation of solids with intense femtosecond laser pulses.