Abstract

Conventional continuous wave and long pulse (nanosecond) laser ablation is used in many fields, such as materials processing and medicine [1]. In these regimes the dominant process involved is the heating of the target material through the liquid phase to the vapour phase, resulting in expansion and expulsion of the desired target material. This is accompanied by heating and collateral damage to the surrounding area, the degree of which is determined by the rate of energy absorption and the rate of energy loss through thermal conduction in the material. This collateral damage is often detrimental and a limiting factor when high precision ablation is required.

© 1998 IEEE