5. Ablation and laser-shock treatments

5.1 Physical principles of ablative treatments and induced transformations

In the pulse regime, and above a certain threshold power density f _th ≍ 10 ⁸ W/m ² , the laser-illuminated surface can vaporize and transform into a high-temperature, high-pressure ionized gas. This is known as a "plasma". These laser plasmas have a large number of potential applications in the field of very high intensities (megajoule lasers...), but can also be used for surface transformation, and in particular to improve electrochemical properties.

Among laser surface treatments involving vaporization phenomena, PLD (Pulsed Laser Deposition) treatments...