Laser ablation refers to the phenomenon in which a low wavelength and short pulse (ns-fs) duration of laser beam irradiates the surface of a target to induce instant local vaporization of the target material generating a plasma plume consisting of photons, electrons, ions, atoms, molecules, clusters, and liquid or solid particles. This book covers various aspects of using laser ablation phenomenon for material processing including laser ablation applied for the deposition of thin films, for the synthesis of nanomaterials, and for the chemical compositional analysis and surface modification of materials. Through the 18 chapters written by experts from international scientific community, the reader will have access to the most recent research and development findings on laser ablation through original research studies and literature reviews.

Laser ablation refers to the phenomenon in which an intense laser beam irradiates the surface of a solid to induce instant local removal of atoms by a thermal or non-thermal mechanism. Through eight chapters of original research studies and literature reviews written by experts from the international scientific community, this book presents theoretical and experimental aspects of the laser ablation phenomenon for processing material including pulsed laser deposition of thin films, laser surface modification, laser machining and laser nanoparticle formation. It also includes a study of the dynamics of plasmas generated by laser ablation of multi-component materials and an overview of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) techniques for chemical analysis.

Laser ablation describes the interaction of intense optical fields with matter, in which atoms are selectively driven off by thermal or nonthermal mechanisms. The field of laser ablation physics is advancing so rapidly that its principal results are seen only in specialized journals and conferences. This is the first book that combines the most recent results in this rapidly advancing field with authoritative treatment of laser ablation and its applications, including the physics of high-power laser-matter interaction. Many practical applications exist, ranging from inertial confinement fusion to propulsion of aerostats for pollution monitoring to laser ignition of hypersonic engines to laser cleaning nanoscale contaminants in high-volume computer hard drive manufacture to direct observation of the electronic or dissociative states in atoms and molecules, to studying the properties of materials during 200kbar shocks developed in 200fs. Selecting topics which are representative of such a broad field is difficult. Laser Ablation and its Applications emphasizes the wide range of these topics rather than - as is so often the case in advanced science – focusing on one specialty or discipline. The book is divided into four sections: theory and modeling, ultrafast interactions, material processing and laser-matter interaction in novel regimes. The latter range from MALDI to ICF, SNOM’s and femtosecond nanosurgery to laser space propulsion. The book arose from the SPIE series of High Power Laser Ablation Symposia which began in 1998. It is intended for a graduate course in laser interactions with plasmas and materials, but it should be accessible to anyone with a graduate degree in physics or engineering. It is also intended as a major reference work to familiarize scientists just entering the field with laser ablation and its applications.

This volume introduces the subject of laser ablation and desorption to scientists and engineers. It covers fundamental experimental and theoretical tools, models, and techniques, and introduces the most important applications. Clearly written and organized in a straightforward manner, Laser Ablation and Desorption lead the reader straight through the fundamentals of laser-surface interactions. Each chapter is self-contained and includes references to other chapters as necessary, so that readers may begin with the topic of greatest interest and follow the references to other aspects of the subject contained within the book.Key Features* Provides up-to-date information about one of the most active fields in physics today* Written and edited by major figures in the field of laser ablation and desorption* Represents the most comprehensive treatment of the state-of-the-art available

A practical book with a variety of uses, this book can help applications engineers spark problem-solving techniques through the use of lasers. Industrial Application of Lasers, Second Edition takes the reader through laser fundamentals, unusual properties of laser light, types of practical lasers available, and commonly used accessory equipment. The book also applies this information to existing and developing applications. Current uses of lasers, including laser welding and cutting, electronic fabrication techniques, lightwave communications, laser-based applications in alignment, surveying, and metrology are all covered as well as discussing the potential for future applications such as all-optical computers,remote environmental monitoring, and laser-assisted thermonuclear fusion. - Explains basic laser fundamentals as well as emphasizing how lasers are used for real applications in industry - Describes the importance of laser safety - Discusses potentially important future applications such as remote environmental monitoring - Includes rare expert lore and opinion

This volume brings together for the first time a collection of papers that specifically describe laser ablation, methods for data quantification, and applications to archaeological questions.

This book explores different aspects of LA-ICP-MS (laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry). It presents a large array of new analytical protocols for elemental or isotope analysis. LA-ICP-MS is a powerful tool that combines a sampling device able to remove very small quantities of material without leaving visible damage at the surface of an object. Furthermore, it functions as a sensitive analytical instrument that measures, within a few seconds, a wide range of isotopes in inorganic samples. Determining the elemental or the isotopic composition of ancient material is essential to address questions related to ancient technology or provenance and therefore aids archaeologists in reconstructing exchange networks for goods, people and ideas. Recent improvements of LA-ICP-MS have opened new avenues of research that are explored in this volume.

Pulsed laser–based techniques for depositing and processing materials are an important area of modern experimental and theoretical scientific research and development, with promising, challenging opportunities in the fields of nanofabrication and nanostructuring. Understanding the interplay between deposition/processing conditions, laser parameters, as well as material properties and dimensionality is demanding for improved fundamental knowledge and novel applications. This book introduces and discusses the basic principles of pulsed laser–matter interaction, with a focus on its peculiarities and perspectives compared to other conventional techniques and state-of-the-art applications. The book starts with an overview of the growth topics, followed by a discussion of laser–matter interaction depending on laser pulse duration, background conditions, materials, and combination of materials and structures. The information outlines the foundation to introduce examples of laser nanostructuring/processing of materials, pointing out the importance of pulsed laser–based technologies in modern (nano)science. With respect to similar texts and monographs, the book offers a comprehensive review including bottom-up and top-down laser-induced processes for nanoparticles and nanomicrostructure generation. Theoretical models are discussed by correlation with advanced experimental protocols in order to account for the fundamentals and underline physical mechanisms of laser–matter interaction. Reputed, internationally recognized experts in the field have contributed to this book. In particular, this book is suitable for a reader (graduate students as well as postgraduates and more generally researchers) new to the subject of pulsed laser ablation in order to gain physical insight into and advanced knowledge of mechanisms and processes involved in any deposition/processing experiment based on pulsed laser–matter interaction. Since knowledge in the field is given step by step comprehensively, this book serves as a valid introduction to the field as well as a foundation for further specific readings.

This book is a printed edition of the Special Issue "Laser-Based Nano Fabrication and Nano Lithography" that was published in Nanomaterials

Emphasising the fundamentals of transport phenomena, this book provides researchers and practitioners with the technical background they need to understand laser-induced microfabrication and materials processing at small scales. It clarifies the laser/materials coupling mechanisms, and discusses the nanoscale confined laser interactions that constitute powerful tools for top-down nanomanufacturing. In addition to discussing key and emerging applications to modern technology, with particular respect to electronics, advanced topics such as the use of lasers for nanoprocessing and nanomachining, the interaction with polymer materials, nanoparticles and clusters, and the processing of thin films are also covered.