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Interferometric study on the growth of pulsed-laser-generated submicron bubble layer on a solid surface

Book ·
OSTI ID:428064
; ;  [1]
  1. Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA (United States). Dept. of Mechanical Engineering

The effective thickness of a layer of rapidly growing multiple bubbles on a chromium surface is measured using the optical interference technique. Irradiation of nanosecond pulsed KrF excimer laser beam on a solid surface immersed in water induces explosive vaporization of water accompanying the temperature rise and pressure pulse generation. The transient growth of the bubble layer is measured by monitoring the optical path length change of the probe laser beam. This paper presents, for the first time, a noncontact technique for quantifying the transient behavior and growth rate of a submicron-thickness bubble layer at a nanosecond time scale. Comparison of the results with those from the optical reflectance and forward scattering measurements suggests that separate bubbles begin to grow in the early stage right after the laser-pulse irradiation and that they tend to coalesce in a later stage. The measured maximum bubble-layer thickness is about 0.1--0.3 {micro}m for laser fluences ranging from 50 to 70 mJ/cm{sup 2}.

Sponsoring Organization:
National Science Foundation, Washington, DC (United States); USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
FG03-95ER14562
OSTI ID:
428064
Report Number(s):
CONF-960815--; ISBN 0-7918-1508-0
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English