Laser texturing of glass disk substrates

Infrared laser pulses of microsecond duration derived from a stabilized carbon dioxide laser are used to produce a textured zone on a glass disk substrate. Each laser pulse can produce a microscopically smooth dome-shaped bump that protrudes from the initial disk surface. Typical bump heights of interest are 20-30 nm with bump diameters /spl sim/10 /spl mu/m. The laser-textured zone, composed of /spl sim/10/sup 5/ bumps, provides a dedicated region for contact start/stop. The zone exhibits excellent tribological properties (stiction and durability).