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Title: Damage in materials following ablation by ultrashort laser pulses: A molecular-dynamics study

Journal Article · · Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter and Materials Physics
; ;  [1]
  1. Departement de Physique et Regroupement Quebecois sur les Materiaux de Pointe (RQMP), Universite de Montreal, C.P. 6128, Succursale Centre-Ville, Montreal, Quebec, H3C 3J7 (Canada)

The formation of craters following femtosecond- and picosecond-pulse laser ablation in the thermal regime is studied using a generic two-dimensional numerical model based on molecular-dynamics simulations and the Lennard-Jones potential. Femtosecond pulses are found to produce very clean craters through a combination of etching of the walls and the formation of a very thin heat affected zone. Our simulations also indicate that dislocations are emitted continuously during all of the ablation process (i.e., for hundreds of ps). For picosecond pulses, we observe much thicker heat affected zones which result from melting and recrystallization following the absorption of the light. In this case also, continuous emission of dislocations--though fewer in number--takes place throughout the ablation process.

OSTI ID:
21052763
Journal Information:
Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter and Materials Physics, Vol. 76, Issue 18; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevB.76.184119; (c) 2007 The American Physical Society; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1098-0121
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English