Fluence Threshold Behaviour on Ablation and Bubble Formation in Pulsed Laser Ablation in Liquids

Abstract

Abstract The ablation yield and bubble‐formation process during nanosecond pulsed‐laser ablation of silver in water are analysed by stroboscopic videography, time‐resolved X‐ray radiography and in situ UV/Vis spectroscopy. This process is studied as function of lens–target distance and laser fluence. Both the ablation yield and the bubble‐cavitation process exhibit threshold behaviour as a function of fluence, which is linked to the efficiency of coupling of energy at the water/target interface. Although ablation happens below this threshold, quantitative material emission is linked to bubble formation. Above the threshold, both bubble size and ablation show linear behaviour.