Ultrashort Laser Ablation Of Metals Research Articles

Influence of laser-induced air breakdown on femtosecond laser ablation of aluminum.

We investigated the influence of laser-induced air breakdown on the femtosecond laser ablation of aluminum target using time-resolved pump-probe shadowgraphic imaging method. The early-stage plasma expanding dynamics and subsequent expanding behaviors of shockwaves and material ejection plume were analyzed through shadowgraphs recorded at different time delays. The dominated mechanisms were clarified at different stages during femtosecond laser pulses ablating aluminum, which provide very valuable information for ultrashort laser ablation of metals.

Mechanisms of nanoparticle formation by ultra-short laser ablation of metals in liquid environment

Laser ablation in liquids is now commonly used to produce colloidal nanoparticles (NPs) that have found numerous applications in different areas. In experiments, NPs of different materials can be rather easily obtained by using laser systems with various pulse durations, shapes, wavelengths, and fluences. In this paper, we focus our attention on metal (gold) NPs produced by ultra-short laser pulses. To better understand the mechanisms of the NPs formation, we perform modeling of femtosecond laser interactions with a gold target in the presence of liquid (water). Simulation of the ablation process over several nanoseconds shows that most of the primary NPs originate from the ablated metastable liquid layer, whereas only a minority is formed by condensation inside the cavitation bubble. These particles will further grow/evaporate, and coagulate during a much longer collision stage in the liquid colloid.

Experimental and theoretical investigation of the ablation mechanisms during femptosecond laser machining

In this work, a theoretical model based on molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and experimentation results of the femptosecond laser (FS) ablation, are applied for the description of ultrashort laser ablation of metals, with emphasis being given to the understanding of the material removal. The ablation of Fe with the use of 100 fs laser pulses, at a wavelength of 775 nm, is studied. Computational and experimental results have revealed that within the investigated laser fluences range (0.01 to 30 J/cm²), four different ablation areas accompanied by different ablation mechanisms, are distinguished. The threshold of the actual ablation has been determined to be at 0.1 J/cm². The ablation depth as a function of the laser fluence and the ablation threshold value have been evaluated and compared with the experimental data available.

Study of ultrashort laser ablation of metals by molecular dynamics simulation and experimental method

The dynamics of fs-laser ablation of monocrystalline copper has been investigated by molecular dynamics simulation and experimental method. A simulation model is developed by taking the laser energy absorption, the thermal transport of free electrons as well as the energy exchange between electrons and lattice into account. The propagation of laser-induced stress wave in the simulation model is studied. The velocity of stress wave is predicted to be nearly equal to sound velocity of copper 4400 m/s. The mechanisms of ablation responsible for individual atoms and clusters are analyzed as the thermal fluctuations in the kinetic energy and tensile stresses, respectively. The rates of ablation at different fluences obtained from molecular dynamics calculations support the experimental observations of two different ablation regimes.

Ultra-short laser ablation of metals and semiconductors: evidence of ultra-fast Coulomb explosion

We have studied ultra-fast laser ablation of Si and a metal via the neutral and ion yield, the energy distribution of emitted neutrals and the charge distribution as a function of the laser pulse width. Two processes, one leading to the ejection of fast (3–7 eV), the other to slow thermal particles, can be identified. The origin of the first process can be correlated with laser pulse widths (or pump–probe delays) and processes on a time scale below 100 fs. Results for Si confirm recent findings for Coulomb explosion (CE) and we show for the first time that CE exists as a mechanism of material removal from metals for ultra-short laser pulses.

Mechanism of ultrashort laser ablation of metals: molecular dynamics simulation

A theoretical model is developed and a molecular dynamics simulation technique is applied for the description of ultrashort laser ablation of metals. The ablation of Al, Ni, and Fe using 0.1, 0.5 and 5 ps laser pulses at wavelengths of 248 and 800 nm is studied. The process is investigated at fluences up to 0.5 J/cm 2. The analysis based on the temporal evolution of the ablation, the temperature, and the pressure distributions into the material reveals that a thermo-mechanical mechanism (spallation) takes place near the threshold. However, phase explosion is found to be the dominant mechanism of material removal at fluences higher than several hundreds of mJ/cm 2. The influence of the laser parameters (wavelength and pulse duration) is obtained and discussed. The ablation depth as a function of the laser fluence and the ablation threshold value are evaluated and compared with the experimental data available. Good agreement between the theory and experiments is observed.

Dynamics of the ejected material in ultra-short laser ablation of metals

A molecular dynamics model is applied to study the formation and the early stages of ejection of material in ultra-short laser ablation of metals in vacuum. Simulations of the ablation process for iron at a pulse duration of 0.1 ps and at different laser fluences are performed. Different features of the ejection mechanism are observed below, near, and above the ablation threshold. The last is estimated as approximately 0.1 J/cm2. The structure of the ablated material is found to depend on the applied laser fluence. The expanded plume consists mainly of large clusters at fluences near to the threshold. With the increase of the laser fluence the presence of the large clusters decreases. Clear spatial segregation of species with different sizes is observed in the direction normal to the surface several tens of picoseconds after the laser pulse onset. The angular distribution of the ejected material is estimated for different regimes of material removal. Above the ablation threshold the distribution is forward peaking.

Numerical study of ultra-short laser ablation of metals and of laser plume dynamics

Numerical modeling is used to investigate the physical mechanisms of the interaction of ultra-short (subpicosecond) laser pulses with metallic targets. The laser-target interaction is modeled by using a one-dimensional hydrodynamic code that includes the absorption of laser radiation, the electronic heat conduction, the electron-phonon or electron-ion energy exchange, as well as a realistic equation of state. Laser fluences typical for micromachining are considered. The results of the ID modeling are then used as the initial conditions for a 2D plasma expansion model. The dynamics of laser plume expansion in femtosecond regime is investigated. Calculations show that the plasma plume is strongly forward directed. In addition, a two-peaked axial density profile is obtained for 400 nm laser wavelength. The calculation results agree with the experimental observations.

Ultrashort laser ablation of metals: pump–probe experiments, the role of ballistic electrons and the two-temperature model

The dynamics of laser ablation from metallic surfaces (Ag, Al, Fe and Ni) induced by the combined effect of two 30 fs sub-threshold laser pulses has been examined. In a pump–probe setup the yield of the emitted secondary ions and neutrals has been determined as a function of the delay between the two laser pulses. The instantaneous generation of highly excited (ballistic) electrons by the laser pulse and the thermal properties of the metal, which have been modified to be valid into the regime of high electron temperatures have been found to be determining factors for the ablation process. Unexpectedly, two distinct maxima for particle emission have been observed as a function of the time separation of the pump and the probe pulse. The energy relaxation is discussed within the frame of the two-temperature model (TTM) and it is shown that the measured behavior (in the time domain) of ablated particles can only be explained by taking into account a general expression for the thermal conductivity, valid for a wide range of electron temperatures and in addition a substantial role of hot, ballistic electrons.