Surface phenomena during ArF laser heating of graphite Model calculations, fast photographic and electron microscopic imaging

The surface phenomena on ArF excimer laser ablated highly oriented pyrolitic graphite (HOPG) were monitored by means of a delay probing dye laser beam (l ˆ 648 nm, FWHM 1 ns) in a Schlieren-like re¯ection arrangement. Images taken by this method revealed surface uplift due to thermomechanical effect on the heated HOPG. In this manner, we can measure the time the HOPG takes to cool down to 1000 K, the temperature threshold of the occurrence of thermomechanical deformation. The results are compared with those of 1D temperature calculations and XTEM observations. # 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved