The processes of UV excimer laser irradiation (both high- and low-fluence) of polyamide fiber were systemically studied, including the surface temperature of the material during the treatment and possible mechanisms for the structure formation. The fluence applied in the high-fluence laser irradiation was above the ablation threshold of the material. The ablation of polymer can be described on the basis of photo-thermal bond breaking within the bulk material. The fluence applied in the low-fluence laser irradiation was far below the ablation threshold of the material. The development of low-fluence laser-induced structures is closely related to the absorption coefficient of the material, the laser fluence used, the polarization of the laser beam, the angle of incidence, and the number of laser pulses applied. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.