Processing structures on human fingernail surfaces using a focused near-infrared femtosecond laser pulse

We investigated the processing of a human fingernail surface using a tightly focused femtosecond laser pulse. The processed structure in the fingernail surface is strongly dependent on the focus position and irradiation energy of the single laser pulse. We observed a ring, a simple pit, a small pit with a surrounding uplift, an irregular jagged surface, and a swell containing a void, depending on the focus position. We also observed a sudden change in the size of the processed structure according to the irradiation pulse energy. From a linear theoretical estimation based on the diffraction of the laser beam, we found that the sudden change is primarily due to the diffraction pattern generated by the circular aperture of the objective lens. We also describe the processing features by comparing the structures processed in a fingernail with those processed in glass.