Investigation on particle formation during laser ablation process with high brilliant radiation

Abstract

Nanometer sized particles are formed within the vapor plume during the ablation of metal with laser radiation. Thereby, the particle formation rate depends strongly on the used intensity of the laser source. High brilliant laser sources have the ability to generate intensities higher than 1⋅108W/cm2 during cw operation. Due to the widespread use of high brilliant laser sources in research and industrial applications, it is important to investigate the influence of particle formation on the ablation process. Therefore, the presented work is focused on the particle formation during the ablation process of stainless steel with a single-mode fiber laser. Results of experimental work are shown and analyzed. In the experimental work a probe laser beam is directed through the ablation plume and the scattered intensity is analyzed. TEM images of particles show an average particle size of 9 nm at an intensity of 1.92⋅108Wcm2.