XeCl-excimer-laser MOPA chain for shock hardening

An excimer laser in master oscillator power amplifier (MOPA) configuration (E equals 2.3 J, tau equals 25 - 50 ns, f equals 10 Hz) was used for shock treatments of metallic samples. The process was studied and optimized using physical investigations concerning the pressure development. The effect of the laser treatment on the microstructure of the material could be demonstrated by micrographs of irradiated samples and could be quantified by roughness and hardness measurements as well as by residual stress analysis.