Formation of a columnar topography on Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/-TiC ceramic after KrF laser machining

Summary form only given. Columnar and cone-like topographies have been observed after irradiation with multiple nanosecond laser pulses on a wide variety of materials including ceramics, polymers, metals and semiconductors. Although there is a lot of literature on this subject, very little information about column internal structure and composition is available Here, we present transmission electron microscopy analysis of the core of columns formed after excimer laser ablation of Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/-TiC ceramic composite. These results help us understanding the mechanisms of column growth.