Bulk damage threshold and three-dimensional microstructuring of dielectrics using the self-focusing of ultrashort laser pulses

Summary form only given. We present experimental results on laser induced bulk modifications for different transparent materials, depending on pulse width and energy. To induce bulk modifications we utilized the beam-narrowing effects of self focusing in a positive Kerr medium. Concerning possible applications, self-focusing of laser light in transparent materials has often been regarded as a problem to be avoided due to the destruction of optical components in high power laser systems.