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Title: Surface instability of multipulse laser ablation on a metallic target

Journal Article · · Journal of Applied Physics
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.367208· OSTI ID:625378
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  1. Intense Energy Beam Interaction Laboratory, Department of Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan48109-2104 (United States)

Large scale wavelike patterns are observed on an aluminum surface after it is ablated by a series of KrF laser pulses (248 nm, 40 ns, 5J/cm{sup 2}). These surface structures have a wavelength on the order of 30 {mu}m, much longer than the laser wavelength. We postulate that these wave patterns are caused by the Kelvin{endash}Helmholtz instability at the interface between the molten aluminum and the plasma plume. A parametric study is given in terms of the molten layer{close_quote}s thickness and of the spatial extent and kinetic energy density in the laser-produced plasma plume. Also included is an estimate of the cumulative growth in a multipulse laser ablation experiment. These estimates indicate that the Kelvin{endash}Helmholtz instability is a viable mechanism for the formation of the large scale structures. {copyright} {ital 1998 American Institute of Physics.}

OSTI ID:
625378
Journal Information:
Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 83, Issue 8; Other Information: PBD: Apr 1998
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English