Evidence of volume bubble creation during laser ablation of PMMA organic polymer

We present results related to the PMMA organic polymer laser ablation for several values of the energy flux of the XeCl laser. These results seem to support the model of volume superheating, which is associated with bubble creation, bubble association, and subsequent burst. It is shown that the laser ablation mode correlates well with the generated acoustic wave and the noise imposed on it that is detected by a sensitive pressure transducer located in the back of the sample.PACS Nos.: 72.20; 72.60; 42.62 cf; 81:05