PHYSICAL MECHANISMS OF LASER CLEANING

Physical mechanisms of laser cleaning of solid surface from soiling particles and films are discussed. Dry laser cleaning of surface from particles is considered to be a result of inertial force, appearing due to thermal expansion of absorbing particles and/or substrate (shaking-off mechanism). Steam laser cleaning is considered for the cases of absorbing particles and absorbing substrate. In the latter case, peculiarities of bubble formation in the liquid layer under the conditions of ns laser action are analyzed. Laser cleaning of surfaces from films by shaking-off and buckling mechanisms (due to thermal tension) is considered. Conditions of the action of each of them are defined. Other physical mechanisms, blasting and evaporation, are briefly discussed.