Multifractal spectrum of a laser beam melt ablation process

The surface profiles resulting from a laser beam melt ablation process have been quantified on the basis of the multifractal formalism. The multifractal spectra for several parameters sets, obtained with the wavelet transform modulus maxima method, were found to change towards higher Hölder exponents as the system undergoes a regime transition from medium to high ablation rates. This is consistent with the experimental observation of pattern formation at high ablation rates.