Thermal Coupling and Damage Mechanisms of 1.06 Micron Laser Radiation and Laser-Produced Plasma on Selected Materials
Abstract
Thermal coupling and plasma-induced surface damage were investigated for selected target materials to determine the correlation between the two phenomena. A review of thermal coupling and unipolar arcing, along with reference to the physical properties of the target materials involved, provided the basis on which this study was conducted. Target materials investigated included aluminum and stainless steel, both with polished, unpolished, and Si- coated surface preparations, as well as TiC-coated stainless steel. The experiments were conducted in a .000001 torr, vacuum using a neodymium-glass laser in the Q-switched mode. For uncoated targets a direct correlation exists between thermal coupling and the percent of irradiated surface experiencing breakdown. For coated targets, thermal coupling is dependent on coating thickness and smoothness. Silicon and TiC-coated targets are found to experience unipolar arcing damage. A model is proposed to describe the relationship between arc crater and target properties.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1982
- Accession Number
- ADA127608
Entities
People
- William F. Jenkins
- William R. Schmidt
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School