Research on the Ablation Characteristics and Thermomechanical Coupling Matching of Continuous-Wave/Pulsed Combined Lasers

Abstract

In laser processing and electro-optical countermeasures, the laser ablation efficiency on the target is of great importance. Compared with traditional single laser irradiation, ablation by continuous-wave (CW)/pulsed combined laser has the advantages of high ablation efficiency, strong controllability, and low laser energy output requirements. However, current research on the synergistic mechanism and matching of combined laser irradiation requires improvement. In this study, damage experiments were mainly conducted on two modes of combined laser, CW/millisecond (CW/ms) and CW/nanosecond (CW/ns) laser. The temperature distribution, ablation rate, and ablation range under different irradiation conditions were tested quantitatively. The ablation characteristics and thermomechanical coupling matching of the combined laser were analysed and physically modelled. The results showed that compared with the pulsed laser alone, the ablation rate of the CW/ms combined mode was greater by approximately one order of magnitude, while that of the CW/ms combined mode was greater by approximately three orders of magnitude. Moreover, the thermomechanical coupling matching of the combined laser can be regarded as the matching of the impact pressure distribution of the pulsed laser with the range of the melting pool. The results of this study may offer guidance for further improving the synergistic enhancement damage mechanism of the combined laser.