Diagnose parameters of plasma induced by femtosecond laser pulse in quartz and glasses

Electron plasma induced by a focused femtosecond pulse (130 fs, 800 nm) in quartz, fused silica, K9 glass, and Soda Lime glass was investigated by pump-probe technology. Pump and probe shadow imaging and interferometric fringe imaging have been used to determine plasma density, relaxation time, and electron collision time in the conduction band. In these materials, the electron collision time is about several femtoseconds when the electron density is in the 10¹⁹cm^-3 range. The electron relaxation processes are different: lifetime is about 170 fs in pure quartz and fused silica, and about 100 ps in K9 and Soda Lime glass. The modified electron band by doped ions is regarded to be responsible for the difference of decay time in these materials.