Dynamics of laser hole drilling with nanosecond periodically pulsed laser

Results are presented on the dynamics of the laser drilling process for a single hole using a periodically pulsed nanosecond laser with a repetition rate up to 60 kHz. The intensity dependence of drilling velocity was determined by measuring the delay time between the beginning of exposure and the moment when the hole opens. The hole collapse phenomenon was observed in our experiments. The competition process between material ejection and the flow of the liquid phase into the ejected area is supposed to be responsible for the hole collapse.