Ablation of metal films by picosecond laser pulses imaged with high-speed electron microscopy

Triple-frame high-speed transmission electron microscopy facilitates imaging of ablation of free standing metal films by picosecond laser pulses. Capillary forces, recoiling evaporating atoms and continuous evaporation help determine the ablation mechanisms initiated by picosecond laser pulses of fluences ranging from 0.6 to 8 J per squared cm in Au and Al films. Enhanced laser fluence increases ablation, which continues by hole opening between 5 and 30 nanoseconds.