Single shot femtosecond laser ablation of molybdenum

Abstract

Molybdenum is a high-strength refractory material widely used in industry; its behavior at high temperatures causes considerable theoretical and practical interest. We present the results of experimental studies of femtosecond laser ablation of molybdenum produced by pulses with duration of 160 fs at a moderate intensity of 1012 W/cm2. The values of single-shot ablation and cavitation thresholds, morphology of craters and surface expansion dynamics were measured using ultrafast chirped interferometry. The experimental data are compared to the results time-dependent heat flow calculations based on two-temperature model with the temperature dependent thermodynamic and transport coefficients in the range up to 20 kK.