Laser–induced film deposition by LIFT: Physical mechanisms and applications

Abstract

Peculiarities of the technique of the laser-induced film transfer~LIFT! are investigated. Possible mechanisms of tearing-off and transference of the films from the donor substrate~target! to the acceptor one are investigated. The main fields of LIFT applications are considered. One of the most interesting directions of LIFT applications-decontamination of radioactive surfaces-is investigated in detail. The main peculiarities and regimes of the processing are defined.

Response to “Comment on ‘Generation of cold low divergent atomic beam of indium by laser ablation’” [Rev. Sci. Instrum. 80, 047101 (2009)]

“…The technique of back ablation of thin film is researched topic and is also referred as laser induced forward transfer ͑LIFT͒ method. [2][3][4][5][6] Physical mechanism behind LIFT method is mainly dependent on laser intensity, 2 and intensity wise there are four regimens of LIFT/laser ablation technique, which are well discussed in detail in literature. 2 Depending upon the energy deposited by laser, the ablated particles from the thin film may consist of film fragments, vapor, atoms ͑giving rise to atomic beam͒, and ions.…”

“…[2][3][4][5][6] Physical mechanism behind LIFT method is mainly dependent on laser intensity, 2 and intensity wise there are four regimens of LIFT/laser ablation technique, which are well discussed in detail in literature. 2 Depending upon the energy deposited by laser, the ablated particles from the thin film may consist of film fragments, vapor, atoms ͑giving rise to atomic beam͒, and ions. Velocities of the emitted particles have been found to be a function of laser intensity as well as other experimental parameters 2,6-8 such as the physical properties of the target and substrate materials, atmospheric conditions ͑vacuum/ air͒, geometry of ablation, etc.…”

“…Velocities of the emitted particles have been found to be a function of laser intensity as well as other experimental parameters 2,6-8 such as the physical properties of the target and substrate materials, atmospheric conditions ͑vacuum/ air͒, geometry of ablation, etc. Normally the particles are emitted at two different velocities in LIFT technique; fast ͑particularly at higher fluences͒ where the particles have velocities of few km/s and slow moving where the velocity of emitted particle is of the order of ϳ100 m / s. 2,6,7 At low fluences only the slow moving component is reported in literature. 2 Reference 1 reports the generation of low divergence subthermal and thermal beams of indium using back ablation of thin film.…”

“…Normally the particles are emitted at two different velocities in LIFT technique; fast ͑particularly at higher fluences͒ where the particles have velocities of few km/s and slow moving where the velocity of emitted particle is of the order of ϳ100 m / s. 2,6,7 At low fluences only the slow moving component is reported in literature. 2 Reference 1 reports the generation of low divergence subthermal and thermal beams of indium using back ablation of thin film. Highest laser energy per pulse used in this paper 1 was 175 mJ, which corresponds to laser fluence of ϳ348 mJ/ cm 2 for ϳ8 mm diameter unfocused laser beam ͑8 ns͒.…”

Laser-induced forward transfer of pure metals

“…Attempts to visualize LIFT-processing of Au [31], Ni [32], Al [33], and Cr [34] do not provide sufficient spatial resolution to track the process in detail. Therefore, theories describing the ejection mechanism have been proposed based on postprocess analysis of the craters left in the donor layer or deposited features on the receiver substrate [35][36][37]. In addition, numerical simulation has been performed [38][39][40].…”