A diagnostic set up for time-resolved imaging of laser-induced ablation

A pump-and-probe diagnostic arrangement was devised to obtain time-resolved imaging of plasma formation and shock wave evolution during photoablation of solid targets induced with a Xe-Cl excimer laser. The relatively simple optical scheme of illumination and image collection provided highly spatially and temporally resolved images composed of shadowgraphs and fringe structures. The interpretation of such illumination patterns is discussed, indicating that their analysis can furnish quantitative information on the local density distribution of the interaction volume and on associated photoacoustic phenomena. The presented set-up can find useful utilization to investigate and control laser-induced ablation processes in various application fields, such as material processing and laser surgery.