Numerical study of the thermal ablation of wet solids by ultrashort laser pulses
- Departement de Physique et Regroupement Quebecois sur les Materiaux de Pointe (RQMP), Universite de Montreal, Case Postal 6128, Succursale Centre-Ville, Montreal, Quebec, H3C 3J7 (Canada)
- Laboratoire de Procedes par Laser, Departement de Genie Physique et Regroupement Quebecois sur les Materiaux de Pointe (RQMP), Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal, Case Postal 6079, Succursale Centre-Ville, Montreal, Quebec, H3C 3A7 (Canada)
The ablation by ultrashort laser pulses at relatively low fluences (i.e., in the thermal regime) of solids wetted by a thin liquid film is studied using a generic numerical model. In comparison with dry targets, the liquid is found to significantly affect ablation by confining the solid and slowing down the expansion of the laser-heated material. These factors affect the relative efficiency of the various ablation mechanisms, leading, in particular, to the complete inhibition of phase explosion at lower fluences, a reduced ablation yield, and significant changes in the composition of the plume. As a consequence, at fluences above the ablation threshold, the size of the ejected nanoclusters is lower in presence of the liquid. Our results provide a qualitative understanding of the effect of wetting layers on the ablation process.
- OSTI ID:
- 21070003
- Journal Information:
- Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter and Materials Physics, Vol. 77, Issue 1; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevB.77.014108; (c) 2008 The American Physical Society; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1098-0121
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Thermodynamic pathways to melting, ablation, and solidification in absorbing solids under pulsed laser irradiation
Nanospallation induced by an ultrashort laser pulse