Ablation threshold dependence on pulse duration for copper

• Published in: Applied surface science Vol. 197-198; pp. 862 - 867
• Main Authors: Hashida, M, Semerok, A F, Gobert, O, Petite, G, Izawa, Y, Wagner, J F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.10.2001
• ISSN: 0169-4332

The process of controlled ablation of matter has not been clearly understood and needs further investigation to elucidate the mechanism of laser ablation. Laser ablation of Cu by short pulse laser (800 nm wavelength, 70 fs pulse duration, 0.01-28 J/cm exp 2 fluence range) in air was studied. Three different ablation thresholds were distinguished in all metals. The ablation thresholds for Cu were found to be 0.018, 0.18, and 0.25 J/cm exp 2 . The lowest ablation threshold was of one order of magnitude lower than the one observed previously. In the fluence range of 0.018-0.18 J/cm exp 2 the ablation rate was approx =0.01 nm per pulse. A dependence of the threshold on the pulse duration was demonstrated in the range of 70 fs-5 ps. As the laser pulse duration increased, the ablation threshold had the tendency to be higher.