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1993
Journal Article
Title
Laser-induced plasma formation during pulsed laser deposition
Abstract
The ablation of Al203 by C02 laser radiation is investigated both theoretically and experimentally. The model connects the laser-induced phase transition from condensed to vaporized state of the target and the dynamic of the emerging process plasma. The plasma is described in a two-fluid approximation by use of non-dissipative gas-dynamical equations incorporating absorption of laser radiation in the plasma and the dynmaic of its ionization state. In the experimental part, the geometry of the luminous process plasma above the target at different instance is detected and the weight loss of the target as a function of the fluence is measured. At an Ar-base pressure below 1 mbar, both calculated and measured results reveal that exist two zones in the process plasma: one which is directly attached to the target surface throughout the whole process, and another which is recognized as an outward moving shock front. Further, it is seen from both approaches that, due to absorption of laser rad iation by the plasma, the weight loss has a local maximum.