Abstract :
The model of laser ablation driven by a bulk photothermal reaction is considered. Stationary wave solutions are obtained
and analyzed. In the case of a simple photothermal bond-breaking reaction, it is possible to reduce this bulk ablation model
to the surface evaporation model with some apparent activation energy. A more complicated model of laser ablation, taking
into consideration a photothermal modification of broken bonds within the bulk of material, is also studied. The existence of
the second threshold related to multiple-shot and long pulse irradiation experiments has been demonstrated. It is shown that
the effect of modification on the ablation kinetics qualitatively depends on the interrelation between activation energies of
two considered bulk reactions. q1998 Elsevier Science B.V.
