Laser- Plume Effects on Radiation Energy Transfer in Materials Processing

In laser materials processing, localized heating, melting and evaporation caused by focused laser radiation forms a vapor on the material surface. The plume is generally an unstable entity, fluctuating according to its own dynamics. The beam is refracted and absorbed as it traverses the plume, thus modifying its power density on the surface of the condensed phases. This modifies material evaporation and optical properties of the plume. A laser-produced plasma plume simulation is completed using axisymmetric, high-temperature gas dynamic model including the laser radiation power absorption, refraction, and reflection. The physical properties and velocity profiles are verified using the published experimental and numerical results. The simulation results provide the effect of plasma plume fluctuations on the laser power density and quantitative beam radius changes on the material surface. It is proved that beam absorption, reflection and defocusing effects through the plume are essential to obtain appropriate mathematical simulation results. It is also found that absorption of the beam in the plume has much less direct effect on the beam power density at the material surface than defocusing does and helium gas is more efficient in reducing the beam refraction and absorption effect compared to argon gas for common laser materials processing.

레이저 가공시 에너지 전달과 Plume 효과