Initiation of an early-stage plasma during picosecond laser ablation of solids

Publication Type

Journal Article

Date Published

10/2000

Authors

DOI

Abstract

Picosecond time-resolved images of plasma initiation were recorded during pulsed-laser ablation of metal targets in an air atmosphere. An early-stage plasma was observed to form before the release of a material vapor plume. Close to the target surface, interferometry measurements indicate that the early-stage plasma has an electron number density on the order of 1020 cm-3. The longitudinal expansion of the ionization front for this plasma has a velocity 109 cm/s, during the laser pulse. In contrast, a material-vapor plume forms approximately 200 ps after the laser pulse, and it moves away from the target at 106 cm/s. The experimental observations of the early-stage plasma were simulated by using a theoretical model based on a two-fluids description of laser plasmas. The results indicate that the initiation of the plasma is due to air breakdown assisted by electron emission from the target.

Journal

Applied Physics Letters

Volume

77

Year of Publication

2000

Issue

16

Organization