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Title: Time-resolved investigations of the non-thermal ablation process of graphite induced by femtosecond laser pulses

Journal Article · · Journal of Applied Physics
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4947190· OSTI ID:22594613
 [1];  [1]
  1. Chair for Laser Technology LLT, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen 52074 (Germany)

We report on the in-situ analysis of the ablation dynamics of the, so-called, laser induced non-thermal ablation process of graphite. A highly oriented pyrolytic graphite is excited by femtosecond laser pulses with fluences below the classic thermal ablation threshold. The ablation dynamics are investigated by axial pump-probe reflection measurements, transversal pump-probe shadowgraphy, and time-resolved transversal emission photography. The combination of the applied analysis methods allows for a continuous and detailed time-resolved observation of the non-thermal ablation dynamics from several picoseconds up to 180 ns. Formation of large, μm-sized particles takes place within the first 3.5 ns after irradiation. The following propagation of ablation products and the shock wave front are tracked by transversal shadowgraphy up to 16 ns. The comparison of ablation dynamics of different fluences by emission photography reveals thermal ablation products even for non-thermal fluences.

OSTI ID:
22594613
Journal Information:
Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 119, Issue 15; Other Information: (c) 2016 Author(s); Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0021-8979
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English