Increasing the ablation efficiency of metals using femtosecond fiber laser

Abstract

Optimization of the process is a complex task, considering the large number of parameter combinations available in modern femtosecond laser sources and the need to increase the throughput by using the maximum available power. For UPS ablation of metals, the highest efficiency typically occurs along with the best quality because any excess pulse energy that cannot be converted into ablation products heats the material, resulting in high roughness. The laser fluence, pulse duration, and wavelength mainly determine the laser-matter interaction and ablation efficiency. Our latest study has shown that when these parameters are used properly, the ablation efficiency of stainless steel may increase by 50% compared to the best reference reported. We focus on the influence of pulse duration and wavelength on the ablation characteristics of metals. We show significant differences in ablation rates for pulses between 250 fs and 7 ps with detailed analysis of pulses <1 ps.