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Laser-induced jet formation and droplet ejection from thin metal films

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Abstract

An experimental study of femtosecond laser-induced jet formation and droplet ejection from thin metal films is presented. These processes are compared to liquid jet formation during laser-induced forward transfer of viscous liquids. As a result of this comparison, a mechanism explaining the main features of laser processing of thin metal films is proposed. According to this mechanism, laser-induced generation of a molten bump and its collapse are similar to the collapse of cavitation bubbles on a liquid–air interface. Material criteria required for realization of the jetting process are discussed and supported by experimental observations.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge financial support for this work by the project CH179/20-1 and Schwerpunktprogramm SPP1327 of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), and the Centre of Excellence for Quantum Engineering and Space–Time Research (QUEST). Alexander Belski from the Institute of Microtechnologies is sincerely acknowledged for his help in ion beam etching experiments.

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  1. Arseniy I. Kuznetsov

    Present address: Data Storage Institute, 5 Engineering Drive I, 117608, Singapore, Singapore

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laser Zentrum Hannover e.V., Hollerithallee 8, 30419, Hannover, Germany

    Arseniy I. Kuznetsov, Claudia Unger, Jürgen Koch & Boris N. Chichkov

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  1. Arseniy I. Kuznetsov
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  2. Claudia Unger
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Correspondence to Arseniy I. Kuznetsov.

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Kuznetsov, A.I., Unger, C., Koch, J. et al. Laser-induced jet formation and droplet ejection from thin metal films. Appl. Phys. A 106, 479–487 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-011-6747-8

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