X-ray dosimetry during low-intensity femtosecond laser ablation of molybdenum in ambient conditions

The absorbed X-ray dose was measured during 35 fs pulsed laser ablation of a high purity molybdenum target in ambient conditions for optical intensities from 1.8 × 10 ¹⁴ to 1.6 × 10 ¹⁵ W/cm ² (0.5-4.5 mJ per pulse) at a repetition rate of 1 kHz. During 1 s of ablation, at a distance of 6 cm from the source, appreciable X-ray dose was observed at all optical intensities, ranging from 0.08 μGy, at the minimum intensity, to 0.97 μGy at the maximum intensity, corresponding to equivalent dose rates of 0.3-3.5 mSv/h. At the highest optical intensity, an absorbed dose of 0.29 μGy was measured at a distance of 12 cm from the source, corresponding to an equivalent dose rate of 1.1 mSv/h. Characterization of the laser plasma emissions showed X-rays with energies approaching 20 keV at higher laser pulse energies. In Canada, the annual equivalent dose limit for nonradiation workers is 1 mSv. Our findings suggest that under certain conditions it is possible to exceed this dosage in as little as an hour of fs-laser material processing in ambient conditions. As such, workers in these environments may need to be trained in radiation safety, equipped with personal dosimeters, and provided proper radiation shielding.