Time resolved evolution of structural, electrical, and thermal properties of copper irradiated by an intense ultrashort laser pulse

The dynamical properties of copper metal are obtained on a picosecond time scale using 100 fs laser pulse at 10(15) W cm(-2)-an intensity regime relevant to femtosecond micromachining. The dissipation mechanisms and scaling laws spanning a wide temperature range are obtained from femtosecond pump-probe reflectivity. We observe obliteration of the crystalline structure in copper within 400 fs due to lattice disorder caused by the intense laser pulse. The electrical resistivity is obtained by studying the probe reflectivity evolution from 0 to 30 ps. The resistivity saturation effect in an unexplored regime intermediate to hot plasma and cold solid is studied in detail. The temperature evolution and thermal conductivity values are also obtained. (C) 2005 American Institute of Physics.