Ultrafast imaging of ultraviolet laser ablation and etching of polymethylmethacrylate

Ablation and etching of the surface of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) by pulses of 248 nm laser radiation [∼20 ns full width at half maximum (FWHM)] have been probed by pulses of visible laser radiation (596 nm; <1 ns FWHM). The results were recorded photographically. Modification of the surface structure of the polymer is first visible at 12 ns and appears to be complete in about 60 ns. Emerging solid material, preceded by a shock wave which first becomes visible at 60 ns, reaches a maximum in intensity at 6 μs and continues until about 20 μs. The average velocity of the solid material, which is probably a low molecular weight polymer of PMMA, is 1.5×10 4 cm/s.