Ablation mechanism and some ideas of applications of modified surface structures induced by picosecond soft X-ray laser

Ishino, Masahiko; Hasegawa, Noboru; Nishikino, Masaharu; Maruyama, Momoko; Faenov, A.*; Tamotsu, Satoshi*; Pikuz, T.*; Inogamov, N.*; Skobelev, I.*; Kawachi, Tetsuya; Yamagiwa, Mitsuru

Soft X-ray laser pulses having a wavelength of 13.9 nm and a duration of 7 ps have an ability to make various nanometer scale damage structures on material surfaces. Our experimental study confirms the theoretical model of an atomistic simulation, which predicts the splash of molten layers occurring under a low electron temperature less than 1 eV and creating nanometer scale surface modifications. We also propose the probable ideas of applications of surface structures induced by the soft X-ray laser pulses. Catalytic substrates for chemical reactions, nanopillar sheet for culturing biological cells, and geometrical structures beneath the surface will be candidates. When we can control the surface modification process, the soft X-ray laser beam will enable us to fabricate three dimensional nanometer scale structures.