Ablative hole formation process in thin tellurium and tellurium-alloy films

Static measurement data of contrast ratio versus laser power of single layer Te and Te alloys on polymethylmethacrylate substrates are reported. It is shown that these films can exhibit two regimes of hole formation depending upon laser power. In the lower power regime hole opening must be initiated by voids in the film while for higher powers voids are not necessary for hole opening. This interpretation leads to a better understanding of the hole ablation process as well as some practical consequences.