CAREER: Multi-disciplinary Research and Education Program in Laser and Thermal Science with Application to Microfabrication Engineering

主要研究人员(PI)观察到，在高强度激光烧蚀铜和铝的过程中，可能会产生小于激光束直径的孔洞。PI假设这些空洞是由于激光与诱导等离子体相互作用时的自聚焦引起的。这一提议试图通过实验和分析相结合的方式来研究自聚焦现象。用不同的激光脉冲频率测量激光与等离子体相互作用的时间和空间分布。实验结果将与分析一起用来估计热流密度，并研究激光自聚焦的基本机制。PI的教育计划包括使用激光演示来激发小学生和高中生学习科学和工程的兴趣。

ABSTRACT The principal investigator (PI) observed that holes smaller than the diameter of a laser beam could be created during high-intensity laser ablation of copper and aluminum. The PI postulated that the holes were caused by self-focusing of the laser beam when it interacted with the induced plasma. This proposal seeks to study the self-focusing phenomenon through a combined experimental and analytical effort. The temporal and spatial profiles of laser beams interacting with a plasma will be measured using different laser pulse rates. The experimental results will be used with analyses to give estimates of heat flux and investigate the fundamental mechanisms of self-focusing of laser beams. The PI's educational plan includes using laser demonstrations to stimulate interests among primary and high-school students to learn science and engineering.