Abstract
We present data and analysis of the laser-induced ablation of pure tantalum (Ta, $$Z=73$$
Z
=
73
). We have identified different physical regimes using a wide range of laser pulse durations. A comparison of the influence of strongly varying laser pulse parameters on high-Z materials is presented. The crater depth caused by three different laser systems of pulse duration $${\varDelta }\tau _1=5\,\mathrm {ns}$$
Δ
τ
1
=
5
ns
and wavelength $$\lambda _1=1064\,\mathrm {nm}$$
λ
1
=
1064
nm
, $${\varDelta }\tau _2=35\,\mathrm {ps}$$
Δ
τ
2
=
35
ps
, $$\lambda _2=355\,\mathrm {nm}$$
λ
2
=
355
nm
and $${\varDelta }\tau _3=8.5\,\mathrm {fs}$$
Δ
τ
3
=
8.5
fs
, $$\lambda _3=790\,\mathrm {nm}$$
λ
3
=
790
nm
are analyzed via confocal microscopy as a function of laser fluence and intensity. The minimum laser fluence needed for ablation, called threshold fluence, decreases with shorter pulse duration from $$1.10\,\mathrm {J/cm}^2$$
1.10
J
/
cm
2
for the nanosecond laser to $$0.17\,\mathrm {J/cm}^2$$
0.17
J
/
cm
2
for the femtosecond laser.
Sub-nanosecond laser induced air-breakdown with giant-pulse duration tuned Nd:YAG ceramic micro-laser by cavity-length control
