Temperature distribution during heating using a high repetition rate pulsed laser

A general equation has been derived for computing the temperature distribution produced in a substrate heated by a high repetition rate pulsed laser. The theoretical predictions have been compared with experimental results obtained for etching of Mn-Zn ferrite in KOH solution using a copper vapor laser. The effects of the laser power and substrate scan speed on the temperature distribution have been investigated, and the predicted melt-zone boundaries have been compared with the experimentally observed width, depth, and shape of the etched grooves.