M\'{e}canismes fondamentaux de l'ablation laser femtoseconde en "flux interm\'{e}diaire"

This chapter aims at identifying what is specific to femtosecond laser ablation. It reviews the essential basic processes which contribute to femtosecond laser ablation of various materials : energy absorption by the material's electrons, electronic relaxation processes involving either electron-electron or electron-lattice interactions. A number of widely used models are briefly discussed, as well as some pending questions.