Title: Ultrafast Laser Ablation for Micromachining, Nanosurgery, and LIBS Speaker: Adela Ben-Yakar and Bob Moser, Mechanical Engineering Department, The University of Texas at AustinDate/Time: Wednesday, August 2, 2006, 10:00 – 11:00 am (MT) Location: Bldg. 980, Room 95 – Sandia NM, Bldg. 940, Aud. – Sandia C Brief Abstract: Ultrashort, high peak-power lasers present a unique opportunity for precision micromachining. This novel micromachining technique benefits from the rapid interaction of femtosecond lasers with materials, which allows material removal before significant heating occurs. The result is extremely precise and controllable processing with minimal collateral damage. In this presentation, we will discuss our research efforts on femtosecond laser micromachining of glass substrates to generate fluidic microchannel geometries not possible through traditional microlithographic techniques. We will also discuss a theoretical analysis of the heat transfer and fluid dynamics of the ablation process. Characterizing the detailed flow and thermal processes associated with ultrafast laser ablation process is important in enabling precise and well-controlled microstructuring. Femtosecond lasers also have potential applications in biology and biomedical engineering, and in the non-destructive analysis of material composition using LIBS (Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy), and these applications will also be discussed.Femtosecond laser ablation of solid materials involves a number of processes, including non-linear absorption, plasmas, shock propagation, melt propagation and resolidification. While there is a growing interest in femtosecond lasers and an increasing number of experimental observations, there are no comprehensive computational models of the various complex processes involved. The multi-physics fluid simulation infrastructure (Rocfluid) developed at the Center for Simulation of Advanced Rockets is a good vehicle for the addressing this problem, and this planned application will be discussed. CSRI POC: Scott Collis, (505) 284-1123 |