Femtosecond ablation scaling for different materials

Abstract

We are making a comprehensive study of the ablation of elemental materials by femtosecond lasers. Specifically, we are examining the ablation of a wide range of metals, under vacuum and in ambient air, using 850-nm wavelength, 100-fs laser pulses in an intensity range approaching and extending beyond the air ionization threshold. We compare ablation rates and examine in detail the morphology and structural integrity of the ablation region, towards gaining greater knowledge of the interaction science as well as constructing empirical models for fabrication guidelines across the periodic table.