Surface temperature measurements during pulsed laser action on metallic and ceramic materials

A set of pyrometers was developed for monitoring of real-time thermocycles in laser materials processing. The combination of high speed (sampling time 20–50 μs), wide temperature range (800–4700 K) and spatial resolution (300–400 μm) provides the means for precise analysis of surface temperature dynamics. The advantages and the problems of pyrometry in pulsed laser applications are illustrated on the example of Nd:YAG-laser action on metallic and ceramic materials. As a result, quantities such as the maximum value of temperature during whole thermocycle, the time of liquid phase existence, the duration of an allotropic transformation in a solid state, the heating and cooling rates, etc. may be determined.