Laser Micromachining Laboratory

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Southern Methodist University


Faculty:

David A. Willis, Ph.D.

 

Graduate students:

Mohammad Hendijanifard (Ph.D. student)

Brandon Least (M.S. student)

 

Undergraduate students:

Jason Stegall

 

Alumni:

Vicentiu Grosu, PhD, 2005 (GM Research)

Cristian Porneala, PhD, 2006 (JPSA Laser, Manchester, NH)

Adam Dreier, BS, 2007

Daniel Perkins (Texas Christian University), REU Summer 2007

Kurt Wilson (Rice University), REU Summer 2008


RESEARCH ACTIVITIES:

Research activities in this laboratory are dedicated to studies of laser-assisted microfabrication, including high power laser ablation and laser micromachining. Experimental studies with nanosecond time resolution are performed to investigate thermal processes that occur on short time and spatial scales during high power laser-material interactions. Processes that are studied include heat transfer, melting, ablation, and fluid flow. Equipment in this laboratory includes two high power Nd:YAG lasers, vibration isolation tables, a 1-GHz bandwidth oscilloscope, fast response optical detectors, and imaging equipment.


CURRENT RESEARCH PROJECTS:

Laser-Induced Forward Transfer (LIFT) and direct write technologies

Thermocapillary flow and rupture during thin film laser micromachining

High power laser ablation and phase explosion


LINKS:                                       

            David A. Willis Homepage

            SMU Homepage

            SMU Mechanical Engineering

            SPIE- The International Society for Optical Engineering

            ASME- The American Society of Mechanical Engineers

            LIA- The Laser Institute of America


 

The contents of this Web site are the sole responsibility of Professor David Willis and do not necessarily represent the opinions or policies of Southern Methodist University. The administrator of this site is David Willis, who may be contacted at dwillis@engr.smu.edu.