The effect of ambient environment and laser fluence has been investigated on the sputtering yield
as well as surface modifications of Lead (Pb). Lead targets were exposed to Nd:YAG laser (532
nm, 6 ns) at various fluences ranging from 6.4 J cm-2 to 15.4 Jcm-2. Quartz Crystal Microbalance
(QCM) was employed as a tool for sputtering yield measurement of Pb under inert and reactive
environment of (Ar and O2) at pressure of 200 torr. It is revealed that sputtering yield of Pb varies
from 3.6 × 1013 to 13.1 × 1013 atoms/pulse is strongly dependent upon fluence and
environmental conditions. The sputtering yield increases non-monotonically with increasing the
laser fluence and its value is higher in case of Argon. The analysis of profilometry of ablated crater
on lead surface explored by optical microscopy is well correlated with QCM measurements. The
surface modifications of laser bombarded lead are investigated using Scanning Electron
Microscopy (SEM). Its analysis reveals the growth of globules, droplets, and conical structures.
The crater diameter as well as growth of surface structures are dependent upon the laser fluence.
The X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirms that no new phases are formed. The micro hardness
explored by Vickers micro hardness shows an increasing trend with increasing fluence. The higher
sputtering yield of Pb in Ar as compare to O2 is observed. Surface modifications of Pb explained
by SEM analysis are correlated with sputtering yield measurement. The other characterization
techniques employed for crater depth measurements, structural modifications, and mechanical
properties are optical microscopy, XRD analysis, and micro hardness tester.