LASER-BEAM EFFECTS ON CU AND TI IN VACUUM AND IN THE AIR

Ti and Cu samples were exposed in ambient atmosphere and vacuum (0.66 mPa) to single pulse (0.2-2.6 J) ruby laser radiation in the Q-switch (30 ns) and free generation regimes (150 mu s). Acoustic recordings du ring irradiation were carried out and the resulting damage was analyze d by light and scanning electron microscopy. In contrast to vacuum con ditions, it is observed in the air that the damaged area was much larg er due to plasma effects and also that cracking of the Ti samples and oxidation of the Cu samples occurred. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Scie nce Ltd.