Introduction

Chapter 1: Introduction to Machining with Lasers

Chapter 2: Time Scales

Chapter 3: Machining with Long Pulses

Chapter 4: Nanosecond Machined Samples

Chapter 5: Machining with Ultrafast Laser Pulses

Chapter 6: Femtosecond Machined Samples

Chapter 7: Contamination, Debris, Etc.

Chapter 8: Heat Affected Zone (HAZ)

Chapter 9: Machining Accuracy

Chapter 10: Sub-micron Features

Chapter 11: Machining Inside Bulk Materials

Chapter 12: Introduction to Waveguides

Chapter 13: Active Waveguides

Chapter 14: Shortcomings of Femtosecond Lasers

Chapter 15: Materials We've Machined

Chapter 16: Conclusion

Appendices: References and Glossary

A second factor limiting the machining accuracy is the laser operating wavelength and/or the beam focusing optics.

The best focal spot is proportional to the wavelength divided by the numerical aperture (NA) of the focusing objective. Note that this observation would indicate that shorter wavelengths are always better than longer wavelengths. While this is theoretically correct, it is important to realize that most often heat diffusion imposes limitations that are much more restrictive than those dictated by wavelength and NA considerations.