This work investigates heat transfer and phase change phenomena during excimer laser interaction with nickel specimens. Based on time-resolved measurements in the laser fluence range between 2.5 J cm(-2) and 10.5 J cm(-2), it is found that surface evaporation occurs when the laser fluence is below 5.2 J cm(-2). At a laser fluence of 5.2 J cm(-2) or higher, explosive-type vaporization takes place. Numerical calculations show the maximum surface temperature reaches 0.84T(c) at a laser fluence of 5.2 J cm(-2), and 0.9T(c) at a laser fluence of 5.9 J cm(-2). The numerical results agree with the experiments on the mechanisms of materials removal in different laser fluence regions.