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Updated: Jan 29, 2026

Investigation of Early Plasma Evolution Induced by Ultrashort Laser Pulses
Published on: July 2, 2012
Pulsed-laser induced gold microparticle fragmentation by thermal strain
Yogesh Pokhrel1, Meike Tack2, Sven Reichenberger2
1Institute for Photon Science and Synchrotron Radiation, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, D-76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany. anton.plech@kit.edu.
Microparticle laser fragmentation (MP-LFL) offers efficient particle processing. Ultrafast X-ray scattering reveals fragmentation is driven by heat distribution and stress confinement, creating large pieces and some clusters.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Laser Physics
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Laser fragmentation of suspended microparticles (MP-LFL) is an emerging technique.
- MP-LFL offers streamlined delivery and optimized irradiation conditions compared to laser ablation in liquid (LAL).
- The underlying structural mechanisms of MP-LFL are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the thermal kinetics and structural evolution of gold microparticles during picosecond laser fragmentation.
- To understand the driving forces behind microparticle fragmentation and cluster formation.
Main Methods:
- Ultrafast X-ray scattering experiments on gold microparticle suspensions.
- Picosecond laser excitation.
- Complementary simulations using the two-temperature model to analyze spatiotemporal temperature distribution.
Main Results:
- Microparticle fragmentation into large pieces occurs within a nanosecond above a fluence threshold of 750 J m⁻².
- Fragmentation is driven by strain from inhomogeneous heat distribution and stress confinement due to ultrafast heating.
- Limited formation of small clusters is observed at higher fluences (2700 J m⁻²) due to photothermal decomposition.
Conclusions:
- The study clarifies the structural basis and kinetics of microparticle laser fragmentation.
- Findings provide insights into optimizing MP-LFL for efficient material processing and nanoparticle synthesis.
- The combined experimental and simulation approach validates the proposed fragmentation mechanisms.
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