Beam-deflection study of shock wave formation and propagation in gas ambient during uv laser ablation of solid material

Beam-deflection technique has been used to detect the propagation of both the plume and the shock wave during laser pulse ablation of materials. It is shown that the shock wave formation differs in different gas ambient. The measured plume expansion velocities follow the exp(-αx) law with increasing distance from the target surface, while the velocities of the shock wave agree with the propagating theory of the shock wave in a homogeneous gaseous medium.