Three dimensional microstructuring of biopolymers by femtosecond laser irradiation

3 pages, 2 figures, 1 table.A sequence of single femtosecond pulses is used to create a pattern of laser affected spots at increasing depths below the surface of transparent biopolymer samples. Materials with different water contents and mechanical strengths, gelatine, chitosan, synthetic polyvinyl pyrrolidone, and biopolymer-polymer blends, are irradiated near the edge of the sample with an amplified Titanium:Sapphire laser (800 nm) delivering 30 fs pulses through a 0.45 numerical aperture objective with energies of 100–3000 nJ. The micrometric modified region is observed by optical microscopy perpendicularly to irradiation. Self-focusing and optical aberration are major factors controlling morphology and size of the created spots.Funding from Project No. CTQ2007-60177, Spain is gratefully acknowledged. M.C. thanks Dr. S. Lazare for useful discussions and S.P. MICINN, Spain, for a FPI fellowship.Peer reviewe