laser ablation

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 30, 2026

Quick Summary

Laser ablation is a process that uses an intense beam of light from a laser to remove material from a surface. This can occur through melting and vaporization. The term "ablation" itself refers to the loss of a part by melting or vaporization, or surgical removal.12

Lasers can vaporize the surface of a target with a highly intense beam. This capability is utilized in various applications, including industrial processes for cutting and welding, and in medicine for precise tissue removal. In surgery, lasers can burn away tissue by being absorbed by water content, and they can also cauterize cuts to stop bleeding. This technology is also employed in manufacturing for drilling and cutting hard or brittle materials that are difficult to machine conventionally.341

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

5 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

advanced ceramics
Film deposition
PVD methods include laser ablation, in which a high-energy laser blasts material from a target and through a vapour to a substrate, where the material is deposited. Another PVD approach involves sputtering, in which energetic electrons bombard the surface of a target, removing material as a vapour that…
Read More
PVD methods include laser ablation, in which a high-energy laser blasts material from a target and through a vapour to a substrate, where the material is deposited. Another PVD approach involves sputtering, in which energetic electrons bombard the surface of a target, removing material as a vapour that…
Read More