Ultrafast laser ablation in the GHz regime with a flexible repetition rate source

A considerable increase in the ultrafast laser ablation rate has been reported for bursts in the GHz regime, although with controversy. We report results of the European project kW-flexiburst, obtained with a novel ultrafast laser that is highly flexible. It has an architecture that enables flexibility in terms of repetition rate (up to 15 GHz) and the number of pulses within the burst. Our recent results shine new light on different aspects of the laser processing of materials with bursts in the GHz regime, providing arguments for the actual disputation. We believe this new laser source can open new perspectives for ultrafast laser processing.