Understanding the fundamentals of laser-matter interactions is crucial for developing and optimizing ultrafast laser processing strategies. In optically transparent solids, the key event by which energy is deposited in the material is through the generation of an electron–hole plasma via nonlinear excitation mechanisms. As the energy stored in the plasma relaxes, local distortions of the lattice may occur, such as point defects. These defects give rise to new discrete energy states located in the bandgap. In this study, we investigate how the presence of these energy states influences the transmission of ultrashort near-infrared laser pulses in fused silica. Experimental results of laser pulse transmission and photoluminescence from defects are correlated with optical microscopy of the irradiated spots, allowing us to identify different nonlinear interaction regimes. Numerical simulations indicate that photo-induced defects influence the nonlinear losses of ultrashort laser pulses and explain why a non-destructive damage regime with detectable excitation is only observed for a narrow intensity range in multipulse experiments.
