Investigating the transition from high to low spatial frequency periodic nanoripples on TiO2 (001) oriented surface upon irradiation with UV-femtosecond pulses

[Display omitted] •Formation of Laser Induced Periodic Surface Structure (LIPSS) on TiO2 surface upon irradiation with femtosecond-UV laser.•Observation of two different systems of low spatial frequency LIPSS.•Pulse-by-pulse transition from high to low spatial frequency LIPSS.•Proposal of a mechanism to explain the role of the HSFL in the formation of the LSFL.•Numerical simulations supporting the evolution from HSFL to LSFL with increasing the number of laser pulses. The formation of laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) on a TiO2 (001) oriented surface upon irradiation with UV-fs laser pulses was analyzed. Two systems of low spatial frequency LIPSS (LSFL) perpendicular to the direction of laser polarization are observed after N = 5 laser pulses. One was developed on the edges of the crater created by the first laser pulse, while the other appeared in the center of crater and spread towards the edges. When N was greater than 10, the two LIPSS systems merge. Both LSFL systems have a spatial period of approximately 200 nm and are due to the coherent superposition of surface waves scattered on inhomogeneities of a transient metallic surface. However they differ by the type of defects involved in the excitation process of surface waves. While a pronounced and localized rim triggered LSFL on the edge of the laser spot, LSFL in the central part nucleated at the shallow high spatial frequency LIPSS (HSFL), which are parallel to the laser polarization. A mechanism is proposed to explain the role of the HSFL in the formation of LSFL. Numerical simulations of the absorbed laser power density support the evolution from HSFL to LSFL as the number of laser pulses increased.