Influence of laser-induced air breakdown on femtosecond laser ablation of aluminum

We investigated the influence of laser-induced air breakdown on the femtosecond laser ablation of aluminum target using time-resolved pump-probe shadowgraphic imaging method. The early-stage plasma expanding dynamics and subsequent expanding behaviors of shockwaves and material ejection plume were analyzed through shadowgraphs recorded at different time delays. The dominated mechanisms were clarified at different stages during femtosecond laser pulses ablating aluminum, which provide very valuable information for ultrashort laser ablation of metals. (C) 2015 Optical Society of America