Profile: | A main research line of the Laser Processing Group (LPG) is focused fundamental aspects of laser-matter interaction in the limits of the very small and the very short (nanometers & femtoseconds).
In particular, the LPG has pioneered the use of ultrashort laser pulses for phase change optical recording and was the first to report reversible phase cycling in Ge2Sb2Te5 with ps laser pulses [3].
The use of fs pump-probe microscopy, developed by the Madrid group, to study laser-induced phase transitions has become a strong point of the group [2]. The participation in the successful EU project CHEMAPH (2006-2008), dedicated to the development and assessment of novel chalcogenide materials for phase change memories demonstrated the usefulness of laser-based assessment of switching performance also for electrical memory development.
Finally, a new method for exploiting the optical near field of particles for nanopatterning has been demonstrated recently that paves the way for a number of potential applications in phase change data storage [1].
Selected relevant recent publications:
1. P. Kühler et al, Imprinting the Optical Near Field of Microstructures with Nanometer Resolution, Small, Vol 5, No. 16, August 17 (2009).
2. J. Siegel et al, Amorphization dynamics of Ge2Sb2Te5 films upon nano- and femtosecond laser pulse irradiation, Journal of Applied Physics, 103, 023516 (2008).
3. J. Siegel et al, Rewritable phase-change optical recording in Ge2Sb2Te5 films induced by picosecond laser pulses, Applied Physics Letters, 84 (13), 2250-2252 (2004).
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