Interaction of pulsed Nd:YAG laser radiation with the (001) surface of ZnCdTe crystals

An investigation was made of the interaction of pulsed Nd:YAG laser radiation with mixed Zn_xCd_1-xTe (x =7nbsp;0.47) crystals. These crystals were grown by the directional solidification method. Various physical phenomena occurring during the interaction of the laser radiation with the crystal surface were observed. Melted regions (craters) appeared as a result of the interaction. Surface microtopography and microsegregation of the elements were investigated with a scanning electron microscope and an x-ray microanalyser. The experimentally determined crater diameters were less than 1 mm, whereas our calculation (based on the one-photon absorption model) predicted the maximum temperature in the irradiated zone to be less than the melting point of Zn_xCd_1–xTe. The two-photon absorption must therefore be taken into account. There were no changes in the chemical composition in the irradiated zone. Soliton-like waves originated on the melted and solidified surface of a crater. A ring-like distribution of granules was attributed to the diffraction in the optical system.