Laser shock wave: the plasticity and thickness of the residual deformation layer and the transition from the elastoplastic to elastic propagation mode

Intense laser radiation leads to irreversible changes in the crystal structure of a target, which are used in laser shock peening technologies. Processes determining the thickness of the residual deformation layer and related residual stresses are studied in this work. It is known that the end of peening is caused by the decaying of the laser shock wave. New information on the transformation of the wave from the elastoplastic to elastic propagation mode under a picosecond impact is obtained. The elastic shock wave is inefficient for peening. The classical configuration with a plastic jump and an elastic precursor ahead of it turns out to disappear during transformation. In this case, the leading edge of the expanding plastic layer gradually decreases its velocity below the bulk velocity of sound, is smeared inside the rarefaction wave, and stops.