Laser-induced shocks and their capability to produce fracture

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The fracture potential of pulsed laser light is investigated for brittle and ductile fracture. The occurrence of fracture depends on the power density of the beam, the pulse duration, the target thickness, and a number of material parameters, ranging from the plasma state to the solid state of the target material. An essential part of the fracture analysis is the attenuation of the induced shock, which is rapid for short pulses. Using aluminum as a target material it will be shown that fluence levels of 104 J/cm2 are necessary to break targets of centimeter thickness, assuming that the pulse duration is 10−7 sec. It appears that an optimal situation for the achievement of fracture exists, since the peak pressure is inversely proportional to a power of pulse duration, whereas attenuation is proportional to pulse duration.