KrF pulsed laser ablation of polyimide

In the present paper, polyimide surfaces were processed with pulsed KrF laser radiation at fluences near the ablation threshold. The morphology of the processed surfaces was studied by scanning electron microscopy and chemical analyses performed by electron dispersive spectroscopy. The formation of conical structures was observed for radiation fluences lower than 0.5 J/cm². The areal density of cones increases with the number of pulses and decreases with the radiation fluence. At low fluences (<150 J/cm²), cones are formed due to shadowing by calcium phosphate impurities while for higher fluences the main mechanism of cones formation is believed to be radiation hardening.     

Cluster growth in an ablation plume propagating through a buffer gas

A phenomenological mixed-propagation model that describes the expansion of an ablation plume through a buffer gas is introduced. Selected experiments including LaMnO₃ and tin ablation in oxygen, as well as tungsten ablation in argon, are analysed. For given ablation conditions the expansion parameters required to model the growth of clusters in the expanding plasma plume are deduced and the average asymptotic size of the clusters is calculated and compared (for tungsten) with the size of clusters measured by transmission electron microscopy.     

Examination of the influence of molecular weight on polymer laser ablation: polystyrene at 248 nm

Following previous studies on the influence of the polymer molecular weight (M_W) on the ablation of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) at 248 nm, this work extends the examination to the ablation of polystyrene (PS) at 248 nm. The ablation threshold and the etching rates are found to be nearly independent of M_W. Optical microscopy demonstrates an excellent crater morphology, few small bubbles are formed on the surface of the low M_W. Examination of the formation kinetics of products in the irradiation of samples doped with the photoreactive iodophenanthrene demonstrates that high temperatures develop upon irradiation, suggesting that thermal mechanism dominates in the ablation of PS at 248 nm. In similarity to the etching rates, the attained temperatures are largely independent of the PS M_W. The factors for the weak dependence of the process on PS M_W are discussed.     

Spectroscopic analysis of a laser-induced NaCl–water plasma. The influence of self-absorption

A spectroscopic study of the plasma plume created by a laser beam on the surface of NaCl aqueous solution is presented. Optical emission spectra are recorded and temporally analyzed; electron number density is determined from the Stark broadening of the NI nitrogen line, and temperature is obtained from relative intensity of OI oxygen lines. The intensity of an atomic line from sodium was used to quantitate its molar percentage in the Oceanic and Mediterranean sea, and calibration curves have been constructed for concentrations ranging up to 1.5%.     

Ablation mechanism of PTFE under 157 nm irradiation

We report time- and mass-resolved measurements on neutral particles emitted from polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) during exposure to 157-nm laser radiation at fluences where etching is observed. By comparing the time-of-flight signals over a range of masses, we conclude that (CF₂) _N fragments for N=1–6 are emitted directly from the surface in substantial quantities. In contrast, the monomer (N=2) is the principal product during irradiation at 248 nm, where thermal decomposition is important. The time-of-flight signals of all the (CF₂) _N fragments show fast components with kinetic energies on the order of an electron volt. These high kinetic energies are consistent with photochemical scission of the polymer backbone, where a fraction of the excitation energy is delivered to the fragment as kinetic energy. Although clean etching is observed under these conditions, the great majority of the mass removed from the target appears as much larger fragments that do not reach our detector. The nature of this material and its affect on the velocity distribution of the observed (CF₂) _N fragments is discussed.     

Dependence of negative ion formation on inhomogeneous electric field strength in atmospheric pressure negative corona discharge

The dependence of negative ion formation on the inhomogeneous electric field strength in atmospheric pressure negative corona discharge with point-to-plane electrodes has been described. The distribution of negative ions HO^-, NO_x ^- and CO_x ^- and their abundances on the plane electrode was obtained with a mass spectrometer. The ion distribution on the plane was divided into two regions, the center region on the needle axis and peripheral region occurring the dominant NO_x ^- and CO_x ^- ions and HO^- ion, respectively. The calculated electric field strength in inhomogeneous electric field established on the needle tip surface suggested that the abundant formation of NO_x ^- and CO_x ^- ions and HO^- ion is attributed to the high field strength at the tip apex region over 10⁸ Vm^-1 and the low field strength at the tip peripheral region of the order of 10⁷ Vm^-1, respectively. The formation of HO^-, NO_x ^- and CO_x ^- has been discussed from the standpoint of negative ion evolution based on the thermochemical reaction and the kinetic energy of electron emitted from the needle tip.     

Nanofoaming dynamics in biopolymers by femtosecond laser irradiation

We have recently shown that irradiation of self-standing films of the biopolymers collagen and gelatine with single femtosecond laser pulses produces a nanofoaming layer with regular bubble size which can be controlled by wavelength selection. Following these initial studies, here we report on the temporal evolution of the foaming effect by measurements in situ and in real time of the change in the transmittance of a cw probe HeNe laser through the irradiated films. Self standing films of the biopolymers were irradiated with 90 fs laser pulses at 800, 400, and 266 nm. For fluences below and above the modification threshold a permanent attenuation of the transmission occurs (increasing with fluence). The initial decay of the transmission is fast (around few tens of ns), and is followed by dynamics in the longer timescale (micro and milliseconds). The temporal evolution of the transmission measured upon fs laser irradiation is similar with that determined in the irradiation of the biopolymer films at 248 nm with 25 ns laser pulses. The method allows separating in time the different processes occurring after irradiation that lead to a permanent nanofoaming structure, while the results allow us to understand the mechanisms of femtosecond laser processing of the biopolymers and their interest in biomedical applications.     

Calculation of radiative transition probabilities and radiative recombination rate coefficients for H2, OH, H 2+ and OH+ molecules

A method is presented to calculate the radiative transition probabilities and the radiative recombination rate coefficients between electronic molecular states. Total transition probabilities are determined from vibrational transition probabilities without considering the detailed rotational structure of the molecular electronic states. Radiative recombination rate coefficients are obtained from the computation of vibrational photo-ionisation cross sections. Concerning spontaneous emission, Lyman (B → X) and Werner (C → X) band systems of H₂ and Meinel (A → X), (B → A) and (B → X) band systems of OH are investigated. For radiative recombination, transitions between H₂⁺ (X) and H₂(X), and between OH⁺(X, a, A, b, and c) and OH(X) are considered. Transition probabilities and recombination rate coefficients are calculated as a function of temperature in the range 1500–15 000 K.     

Investigation of the ETA-BETA II plasma edge by surface analysis of collector probes

To investigate the ion flux escaping from the plasma and the impurity flux released by the wall, collector probes made of graphite, silicon and titanium have been exposed to the deuterium plasma confined in the toroidal device ETA BETA II. The damages on the collector surfaces have been surveyed by a scanning electron microscopy (SEM) apparatus. The deuterium and impurity retention have been measured by elastic recoil detection (ERD) and Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy (RBS) techniques respectively. The implantation build-up has been investigated as a function of the exposure time. The deuterium dose in graphite saturates after a few discharges, whereas the metal impurities exhibit a linear increase in time. The deuterium flux and its radial dependence, inferred from the implanted concentrations, have been compared with those measured by Langmuir probes. Metal impurities have been identified and their relative abundances have been compared with the material wall composition. The impurity flux is found consistent with the global content in the plasma derived by spectroscopic measurements. The deuterium dose measured in different samples has been related to the backscattering coefficient of the materials. Finally, to investigate the damage on sample probes facing the plasma particle flow, erosion probes made of vitreous graphite with silver implanted at a fixed depth have been exposed to the plasma and the thickness change after exposure recovered.     

Molecular dynamics study of groove fabrication process using AFM-based nanometric cutting technique

Three-dimensional molecular dynamics simulation of groove fabrication using atomic force microscopy (AFM)-based nanometric cutting technique is set up, fabrication processes of grooves with two types (line, and folder line) and five folder angles (0°, 30°, 45°, 60°, 90°) are simulated to investigate the effect of groove geometry on the fabrication process. The results show that the Normal force, Lateral force, and Resultant forces are almost symmetric with respect to the critical folder angle of 45°. The best surface quality of fabricated groove can be obtained at the folder angle of 45°. It reveals that the groove geometry has a significant effect on the groove fabrication process due to the material anisotropy on the atomic scale.     

DLC coating of textile blood vessels using PLD

Textile blood vessels with a length of 30 cm were coated with amorphous diamond-like carbon (DLC) layers with thicknesses up to 200 nm. The layers were created by pulsed laser deposition in vacuum or argon ambient. The percentage of sp³ carbon was evaluated using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray excited Auger electron spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy. Depending on the deposition conditions the sp³ content varied from ∼40% to 60%. The adhesion of the DLC layers to the textile vessels was checked. The preliminary biocompatibility results from in vivo tests with sheep are also given.     

Electromagnetic field distributions in waveguide-based axial-type microwave plasma source

We present results from simulations of 2D distributions of the electromagnetic field inside a waveguide-based axial-type microwave plasma source (MPS) used for hydrogen production via methane reforming. The studies are aimed at optimization of discharge processes and hydrogen production. We derive equations for determining electromagnetic field distributions and next determine the electromagnetic field distributions for two cases – without and with plasma inside the MPS. For the first case, we examine the influence of the length of the inner conductor of the coaxial line on electromagnetic field distributions. We have obtained standing wave patterns along the coaxial line and found resonances for certain positions of the coaxial line inner conductor. For the case with plasma inside the MPS, we perform calculations assuming that distributions of plasma parameters are known. Simulations are done for several values of maximum electron density. We have found that for values of electron density greater than strong skin effect in the plasma is observed. Consequently, plasma may be treated as an extension of the inner conductor of the coaxial line. We have used FlexPDE software for the calculations.     

Spectrally selective splitters with metal-dielectric-metal surface plasmon waveguides

Spectrally selective splitters with metal-dielectric-metal (MDM) subwavelength waveguides are proposed in this paper. The method is based on the Bragg grating structure with periodically modulated MDM waveguide width, which delivers a stop band effect for the surface plasmon propagating in the waveguide. By adding appropriate Bragg grating structure in one or more arms of the waveguide splitters, light in a certain frequency range can be readily guided into the desired directions, as demonstrated numerically by the finite-difference time-domain method. Dependence and optimization of the geometrical parameters are also considered in this paper.     

Investigation of radial profiles of vibrational and rotational temperatures in nitrogen DC glow discharge

Spatially resolved measurements of vibrational and rotational temperature determined from the N₂(C) nitrogen bands intensities have been performed by means of optical scanner of original construction. It has been found that radial variations of studied bands are independent of pressure and discharge current under our experimental conditions, i.e. in the pressure range (100–300) Pa and for discharge current up to 40 mA. Moreover, it has been found that vibrational as well as rotational temperatures stay almost constant in the radial direction. No radial changes of both temperatures can be explained by good thermal conductivity of the positive column of DC glow discharge. This research was supported by grants: Charles University No. GAUK 194/01, Ministry of Education of Czech Republic MSM 11320002, and Grant Agency of Czech Republic GAČR 202/03/0827. The theme of presented article was included in the EU project No. G1RT-CT-2002-05083 “Plasmatech”.     

Methods for controlling of the laser-induced absorption in a BTO crystal by using of cw-laser radiation

The iron-atom concentration distribution as well as the gas-phase temperature was measured via laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) during iron-oxide nanoparticle synthesis in a low-pressure hydrogen/oxygen/argon flame reactor using ironpentacarbonyl (Fe(CO)₅) as precursor. Temperature measurements based on multi-line NO-LIF imaging are used to correct for temperature-dependent ground-state populations. The concentration measurement is calibrated based on line-of-sight absorption measurements. The influence of the precursor on the flame is observed at precursor concentrations larger than 70 ppm as the flame front moves closer to the burner surface with increasing Fe(CO)₅ concentration.     

Back discharge in multipoint-plane geometry in flue gases

The paper presents investigations of back discharge occurring in air and flue gases produced by the process of burning of liquefied petroleum gas or charcoal. The discharge was generated between a multineedle electrode and plate covered with fly ash layer. The aim of this work was to determine the effects of back discharge in multineedle-to-plate electrode configuration on the fly ash layer covering the plate electrode. Level of NO_x and CO emission was also measured. It was found that the chemical composition of flue gas can be changed in the domains where the back discharge occurs, for example, additional amounts of nitrogen oxides (NO and NO₂) are produced and also carbon oxide (CO) was produced at higher discharge current.     

Realization of an ultra-flat silica surface with angstrom-scale average roughness using nonadiabatic optical near-field etching

We propose a new method of optical near-field etching where a nonadiabatic process is applied to a synthetic silica substrate using a continuum wave laser (λ=532 nm) with a Cl₂ gas source. Because the absorption band edge energy of Cl₂ is higher than the photon energy of the light source, we preclude the conventional adiabatic photochemical reaction. An optical near field, generated on the nanometrically rough substrate, induces the nonadiabatic chemical reaction to the Cl₂ molecules and thereby selectively etches away the roughness, leaving an ultra-flat synthetic silica surface with a minimum average surface roughness R _a of 1.37 Å.     

Microdischarges in ceramic foams and honeycombs

Microdischarges in spatially confined geometries, such as microcavities and micropores of various materials, present a promising method for the generation and maintenance of stable discharges at atmospheric pressure. They have been successfully used in many biomedical, environmental and industrial applications. The paper presents two relatively new types of discharges in confined volumes – a capillary microdischarge in ceramic foams and a sliding discharge inside the capillaries of ceramic honeycombs – and describes their basic physical properties and mechanisms. Microdischarges inside the microporous ceramic foams develop from the surface barrier discharge if the amplitude of the applied voltage reaches given threshold, but only for a specific pore size. Sliding discharge inside the honeycomb capillaries is produced by a combination of AC barrier discharge inside catalytic pellet bed coupled in series with DC powered honeycomb monolith. Both discharges produce relatively cold microplasmas with high level of non-equilibrium. The basic characteristics of the microdischarges, addressing the effects of the applied voltage, discharge power, pore size, length and diameter of the capillaries are discussed.     

Computational study of plasma-solid interaction in argon plasma with inclusion of magnetic field

In the presented contribution two groups of techniques of computational physics were used for the study of sheath structure in the DC glow discharge in argon plasma – the fluid modelling describing macroscopic plasma phenomena and the particle modelling providing more detailed insight into the plasma processes. A comparison of different computational methods is given with attention to the efficiency of computer codes in two dimensions. Another point of interest is the inclusion of external magnetic field into the models and its effect on the sheath structure.     

Observation of negative alkali ions from alkali halides during 248-nm laser irradiation

Below laser fluences where a plasma is formed (the so-called plasma or plume formation threshold) a number of fundamental phenomena can occur where particles such as atomic and molecular ions, atoms and molecular neutrals, and electrons can be emitted. An understanding of such processes is necessary to develop predictive models for material removal from laser irradiated surfaces—at the foundation of laser etching, machining, and pulsed laser deposition. We have reported on a number of the mechanisms for such emission processes. Here, due to space limitations, we present a summary of our studies on the formation of negative alkali ions from single crystal KCl during exposure to pulsed 248-nm radiation at fluences well below the threshold for plasma formation. Despite the high electron affinities of the corresponding halogen atoms, negative halogen ions were not detected. Significantly, the positive and negative alkali ion distributions overlap strongly in time and space, consistent with K formation by the sequential attachment of two electrons to K⁺. Negative alkali ions are also observed under comparable conditions from LiF, NaCl, and KBr. In each material, the strong overlap between the positive and negative alkali ion distributions, and the lack of detected negative halogen ions, suggest that negative ion formation involves a similar mechanism.