Development of Ultra High Energy Density Heat Sources and Their Application to Heat Processing

This paper presents studies on the ultra high energy density heat sources, their characteristics and applications to heat processing. After some historical review of the various types of electron and laser beam equipment, the important problem of focusing large output lasers and electron beams is discussed, together with their characteristics as heat sources. Moreover, the basic weld zone characteristics produced by ultra high energy density beams are also examined, paying particular attention to hardness and the "Fracture Path Transition Temperature". Finally, the author refers to the experimental results of horizontal electron beam welding, Tandem Electron Beam Welding and laser beam welding, and describes the similarities and differences in processing characteristics of the laser beam and electron beam.