• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.804-812
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• 2003

This paper introduces optical methods for in-situ measurement of surface temperature and pressure transient in thermal processes having nanosecond time scales. In the temperature measurement, a p -Si thin film whose refractive index is calibrated as a function of temperature is embedded beneath the sample surface and the photothermal reflectance is monitored for estimating the surface temperature. The pressure transients are measured using the photoacoustic optical deflection method. The experimental technique is used to analyze the nanosecond laser induced vaporization process that is central to numerous engineering and bio-medical applications. Based on the experimental results, discussions are made on the experimental technique and the physical mechanisms of laser-driven explosive vaporization phenomena.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.25 no.11
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• pp.1483-1491
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• 2001

Enhancement of pulsed-laser ablation by an artificially deposited liquid film is presented. Measurements of ablation rate, ablation threshold, and surface topography arc performed. Correlation between material ablation and photoacoustic effect is examined by the optical beam deflection method. The dependence of ablation rate on liquid-film thickness and chemical composition is also examined. The results indicate that photomechanical effect in the phase explosion of liquid is responsible for the enhanced ablation. The low critical temperature of liquid induces explosive vaporization with localized photoacoustic excitation in the superheat limit and increases the ablation efficiency. Experiments were carried out utilizing a Q-swiched Nd:YAG laser at near-threshold laser fluences with negligible plasma effect (up to ∼100 MW/cm$^2$).