Picosecond Dynamics and Morphology of the Spallation of a Nanolayer in a Vanadium Film under Shock-Wave Loading by Subpicosecond Laser Pulses

The time dynamics and morphology of a spall fracture of a micron-thick vanadium film sample under shock-wave loading by femtosecond laser pulses under various radiation focusing conditions were studied using high-speed laser interferometry, scanning electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy. It is shown that near the destruction threshold at a duration of the generated compression pulse of 50 ps and a deformation rate of 1.4 × 109 s–1 a crater 170–190 nm depth and nanoscale roughness is formed on the back surface. The results may be of interest for studying the physics and modeling of high-speed metal destruction processes.