Some aspects of laser-metal vapour interaction

The vapour beam interaction plays an important role in laser machining process, since the vapour generated on the workpiece surface absorbs some fraction of the incident beam and heats the workpiece surface. Consequently, a study of this interaction mechanism is essential. For this purpose, a computer program was developed to investigate the interaction interaction, it provides a foundation to do further studies. It was found that the vapour locally high pressure gradients. Although the analysis presents a simplified picture of the interaction, it provides a foundation to do further studies. It was found that the vapour temperature reaches 5000 K after 10⁻⁶ s for a laser pulse of 10¹¹ W/m² power intensity. The leading edge of the vapour velocity had a velocity of the order of 4000–7000 m/s.