LAUSR

Abstract The ablation of thin metal films using ultrafast laser radiation represents a standard processing procedure in laser technology. However, looking closer to the resulting structures, the arising topology deviates strongly from the expected one. Ablation of thin gold films using ultrafast laser radiation with a Gaussian-shaped spatial intensity distribution results in flat topologies. By synergistically combining space and time-resolved reflectometry with expanded two-temperature hydrodynamic modeling, we explain the formation of bulging and rupture of the thin film-surface by the expansion of strongly stretched liquid material due to the induced rarefaction wave propagating towards the substrate. Also, the formation of a flat ablation structure is described by the interplay of two rarefaction waves, one propagating towards the substrate and the other one propagating towards the vacuum boundary, within the completely molten film. The simulated topology agrees excellent with the experimentally observed ablation structure. Besides, all simulated stages of excitation of the gold film, namely electron-phonon non-equilibrium, hydrodynamic expansion, and rupture, are confirmed by space and time-resolved pump-probe reflectometry.