The heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) head–disk interface is a unique operating environment that combines nanoscale spacings, high shear rates, high-temperature gradients, and high optical fluxes in a mass-produced device. One of the greatest challenges is to develop materials for the head–disk interface that enable the required head–media spacing while also providing reliability. Traditional head–disk interface materials, engineered and optimized for conventional magnetic recording hard-disk drives, are challenged to provide the needed performance at the high temperatures that HAMR involves. We review some of the primary materials used in conventional magnetic recording, how high temperatures challenge their performance, and some of the current understanding and strategies to develop a reliable HAMR head–disk interface.

Recently, a laboratory-scale method for measuring the rapid energy release from milligram quantities of energetic material has been developed based on the high-temperature plasma chemistry induced by a focused, nanosecond laser pulse. The ensuing exothermic chemical reactions result in an increase in the laser-induced shock wave velocity compared to inert materials. Laser-induced air shock from energetic materials (LASEM) provides a method for estimating the detonation performance of novel organic-based energetic materials prior to scale-up and full detonation testing. Here, the extension of LASEM to non-organic energetic materials is discussed. The laser-induced shock velocities from reactive materials such as Al/PTFE, Al/CuO, Al/Zr alloys, Al/aluminum iodate hexahydrate, and porous silicon composites have been measured; in many cases, the high sensitivity of the samples resulted in propagation of the reaction to the surrounding material, producing significantly higher shock velocities than conventional energetic materials. Methods for compensating for this effect will be discussed. Despite this limitation, the relative comparison of the shock velocities, emission spectra, and combustion behavior of each type of material provides some insight into the mechanisms for increasing the energy release of the material on a fast (μs) and/or slow (ms) timescale.

Ultrafast laser synthesis and processing of materials is a burgeoning field that is still in its infancy. This article and the theme articles in this issue review recent developments in the fundamental physics of ultrafast laser–solid interactions as well as the state of our understanding of ultrafast laser-driven surface morphology, modification of transparent media, 3D photo-polymerization and additive fabrication, spallation of graphene, and biological interactions. Also reviewed is the current state of emerging commercial high average power lasers, central to the widespread adoption of ultrafast laser synthesis and processing of materials. It is remarkable that ultrafast lasers with 20 to 600 femtosecond pulse duration can have such a dramatic impact on materials. As we learn more about the fundamental mechanisms that drive the ultrafast laser-material response, even more applications are anticipated to emerge. This revolutionary approach to materials synthesis and processing has already spawned several commercial technologies and promises to create many more in the near future.

In our work on laser scribing CdTe solar cells we have found what appears to be an unpublished laser material interaction that allows precise laser etching of SnO2 films to an arbitrary thickness with high uniformity. This precise and efficient laser etching mechanism allows arbitrary reduction of the film thickness in a controlled manner on the scale of tens of nm. In addition to the fine depth selection, we find that there develops a pulse duration dependent microstructure on the surface. This micro microstructure results in a strong diffraction effect in the visible portion of the spectrum. In this work we propose a physical mechanism behind this novel depth selective laser interaction as well as the resultant micro-structure. Finally we demonstrate and propose some possible applications for this process.

Polymers and polymer nanocomposites have been studied under conditions of extremely high heating rates. Traditionally, these materials have been examined by the flammability research community using methods which have heating rates on the order of 10 degrees C/min. In this study, we have examined how polypropylene-nanoclay (montmorillonite) and polypropylene-carbon nanotube nanocomposites behave subjected to heating rates on the order of one million degrees C/min when irradiated with a 1064 nm Nd-YAG variable pulse millisecond laser. Time-resolved temperature data and mass loss data was collected for each sample as well as post-mortem surface characterization using spectroscopy and electron microscopy. The analysis shows that the nanospecies are effective in providing a protective barrier that decreases the amount of degradation and mass loss to the underlying polymer material. The effect is clearly seen after irradiating with a single pulse and multiple pulses. A comparison between the performance of the nanoclay and carbon nanotube composites is given.

The phase formation in the zone of directional laser irradiation of compacted Al2O3–TiO2–Y2O3 mixtures has been investigated. It is established that phase formation is carried out within the framework of binary mixtures Al2O3 – Y2O3 and Y2O3 – TiO2.

A femtosecond (fs) pulse duration is shorter than many physical/chemical characteristic times, such as the electron-photon relaxation time, which makes it possible to control electron dynamics. This paper reviews our recent progress which proposes to change electron dynamics (selective excitation/ionization) and electron densities/temperatures in materials to control the following properties and processes: 1) the transient (femtosecond-to-picosecond time scale), localized (nanometer-to-micrometer length scale) material properties, 2) the corresponding photon absorption process, and 3) phase change mechanisms, by manipulating fs pulse-train number/delay for high-precision micro/nanoscale manufacturing.

In this work novel approaches to fabricate silicon-based electrodes are shown. Starting from silicon nano-particles it is possible to create nano-structured porous thin films. Both the synthesis of the Si nano-particles and the electrode assembly are performed via aerosol routes. This guarantees a very good control on the particle size and the particle size distribution, on the purity of the product and on the morphology and texture of the deposited layers. Particles are produced via Laser assisted Chemical Vapor Pyrolysis whereas electrode thin layers are deposited via Electro Spray method. The range of particle sizes can be tailored according to the selected application. Here, particles of a mean size of about 10 nm have been synthesized. Since Si is well known to forms highly lithiated intermetallic compounds [1], it is regarded as one of the most promising material for energy storage [2], especially looking at high energy density applications, such as hybrid/electric vehicle traction. In this work its promising performance are presented. The role of the additives in the composite formulation is also taken into account for a more clear understanding of the capacity fading mechanism of such electrodes.

In this article, the chemical and structural changes inside soda-lime glasses induced by femtosecond (fs) laser pulsing have been reported, based on transmission electron microscopy and electron energy loss spectroscopy studies. Under fs-laser interaction, Na-rich phases are formed, and Na nanoparticles are also precipitated around the Na-rich phases. These findings demonstrate how powerful and efficient the fs-laser pulsing and interaction can be in making novel microstructures in soda-lime silicate glass, and they bridge the gap between the macroscale property changes and nanometer-scale structures.

Organic light emitting material direct writing is demonstrated based on nanomaterial enabled laser transfer. Through utilization of proper nanoparticle size and type, and the laser wavelength choice, a single laser pulse could transfer well defined and arbitrarily shaped tris-(8-hydroxyquinoline)Al patterns ranging from several microns to millimeter size. The unique properties of nanomaterials allow laser induced forward transfer at low laser energy (0.05 J/cm2) while maintaining good fluorescence. The technique may be well suited for the mass production of temperature sensitive organic light emitting devices.

The combined effects of melting temperature depression, lower conductive heat transfer loss, strong absorption of the incident laser beam, and relatively weak bonding between nanoparticles during laser irradiation result in the transfer of patterns with very sharp edges at relatively lower laser energy than commonly used, thus inducing minimal damage to the target organic light emitting diode material with no evidence of cracks. This technique can be applied to a broad range of laser wavelengths with proper selection of nanoparticle size and size distribution, as well as the material type. Additionally, nanomaterial enabled laser transfer may be particularly advantageous for the mass production of temperature sensitive devices.

Gold particles were fabricated by the high-intensity femtosecond laser irradiation of gold (III) chloride trihydrate (HAuCl4) aqueous solution. The structure and size distribution of the prepared particles were evaluated by transmission electron microscopy. The configuration of the gold particles varied with the concentration of the HAuCl4 aqueous solution. The mean particle size and size distribution were changed by the addition of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), which acted as a dispersant, and monodispersed gold nanoparticles with a diameter of about 3 nm were successfully fabricated. The formation process of the nanoparticles is discussed in terms of the optical decomposition of molecules in the highly intense optical field generated by femtosecond laser irradiation.

Carbon coated nanoparticles were synthesized by laser-assisted (ArF excimer laser, λ = 193 nm) chemical vapor deposition (LCVD). The particles were formed in the gas-phase by photolytic dissociation of cobaltocene in argon and the particles were deposited onto a silicon substrate. The particles were deposited at two different laser fluencies, 70 and 300 mJ/cm2.

Single crystalline spherical cobalt particles with a well-defined carbon shell were observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) for the highest fluence, 300 mJ/cm2. The metallic nucleus phase were identified as either β-Co or Co3O4. Polycrystalline particles were deposited at 70 mJ/cm2, these particles contained α-Co, β-Co, CoO and Co3O4. The particles deposited at 300 mJ/cm2 were log-normally distributed and the total diameter had a mean geometric size of 25 nm while the nuclei had a mean diameter of 10 nm. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements showed that the particles had a carbon content roughly ten times the amount of cobalt. Sputtering showed that both cobalt oxide and metallic cobalt was present. HRTEM micrographs of the particles revealed that only one phase was present in the whole nucleus, proving the nuclei were either oxide or metallic. Raman spectroscopy showed that that the carbon shell contained mostly amorphous carbon. Small domains of carbon of more graphitic character was embedded in the amorphous carbon shell in the 300 mJ/cm2 sample.