Surface Modification of Titanium by High Intensity Ultra-Short Nd:YAG Laser

Abstract

The effects of an Nd:YAG laser interaction with titanium target using laser radiation at wavelengths 1.064 or 0.532 μm (40 picoseconds pulse duration) were studied. Modification of target surfaces at laser energy densities of 2.4 and 10.3 J/cm2 (λ1 laser= 1.064 μm) and 1.1 J/cm2 (λ2 laser= 0.532 μm) are reported in this article. Qualitatively, the titanium surface modification can be summarized as follows: (i) ablation of the titanium surface in the central zone of the irradiated area for both laser wavelengths; (ii) appearance of a hydrodynamic feature like resolidified droplets of the material (λ1 laser= 1.064 μm), as well as formation of the wave-like microstructures (λ2 laser= 0.532 μm); and (iii) appearance of plasma, in front of the target, with both laser wavelengths.