Control of periodic ripples growth on metals by femtosecond laser ellipticity.

Formation of the periodic ripples on metallic surfaces is investigated comprehensively using variable ellipticities of femtosecond lasers. Compared with the linearly polarized incidence, the well defined grating-like ripple structures rather than the uniform arrays of nanoparticle can always be obtained for the elliptical polarization lasers. The ripple orientation is slanted clockwise or anticlockwise depending on the laser helicity but always display a maximum angle of 45°. Theoretical analyses indicate that no circular polarization is achieved for femtosecond lasers passing through quarter waveplate, and the induced ripple orientation is determined by the major axis of the polarization ellipse. The simulation results agree well with the experimental observations.