Laser comminution of submerged samples

Journal Article · Sun Jul 07 04:00:00 EDT 2013 · Journal of Applied Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4808333· OSTI ID:22122788

Mariella, R. Jr.; Rubenchik, A.; Norton, M.; Donohue, G. ^[1]

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1. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, 7000 East Ave., Livermore, California 94550 (United States)

With the long-term goal in mind of investigating possible designs for a 'universal, solid-sample comminution technique' for elemental analysis of debris and rubble, we have studied pulsed-laser ablation of solid samples that were submerged in water. Using 351-nm, 15-ns laser pulses with energy between 1 J and 0.35 J, intensities between 500 MW/cm{sup 2} and 30 MW/cm{sup 2}, and samples of broken rock [quartzite] and concrete debris, we have observed conditions in which the laser-driven process can remove material from the solid target substrate, dissolving it and/or converting it into ultrafine particles in a controlled manner. Our study used impure, non-metallic substrates and investigated both the rate of material removal as well as the size distribution of particles that were ablated from the process. We studied ablation at lower regimes of intensity and fluence [below 100 MW/cm{sup 2} and 0.4 J/cm{sup 2}, respectively] than has previously attracted attention and discovered that there appears to be a new regime for energy-efficient material removal [Q* < 4000 J/g, for quartzite and <2000 J/g for concrete] and for the generation of ultrafine particles.

• OSTI ID: 22122788
• Journal Information: Journal of Applied Physics, Journal Name: Journal of Applied Physics Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 114; ISSN JAPIAU; ISSN 0021-8979
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
ABLATION
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
COMMINUTION
DISTRIBUTION
LASER RADIATION
PULSES
QUARTZITES
SOLIDS
SUBSTRATES