Abstract

This invention pertains to a method and apparatus for inscribing a pattern into a surface of a substrate, such as a sheet of glass. The method includes the steps of providing a Nd:YAG laser (12) having a characteristic output wavelength of 1.06 micrometers; providing a glass substrate (18) that is substantially transparent to the characteristic output wavelength; and applying a layer of material, such as a layer of tape (16), to a surface (18a) of the substrate. The layer of material is selected so as to strongly absorb the characteristic output wavelength. A next step focuses (14) an output of the laser into a spot (12c) at or near to an interface between the layer of material and the surface of the substrate. A further step translates (20) the surface relative to the spot. The layer of material absorbs the output of the laser and is heated thereby to a temperature sufficient for inscribing the surface underlying the spot. That is, the layer of material enables the laser to build a plasma state adjacent to the surface of the substrate, which in turn scribes the surface of the substrate.