Self-similar model of laser-induced plasma expansion affected by radiation pressure

In a stage of evolved gasdynamics a self-similar solution of laser plasma isothermal expansion including radiation pressure has been found and discussed with respect to D and D + shock profiles time evolution.     

The effect of ambient pressure on laser-induced plasmas in air

A detailed investigation of the effect of ambient pressure in the range of 0.1 to 1.0 atm on the size, temperature, electron number density, and fraction of laser energy absorbed in a laser-induced plasma in air has been conducted. As pressure is reduced the size of the plasma, its electron number density, its peak emission intensity, and the fraction of incident laser energy that is absorbed are all found to decrease significantly. The temporal temperature profile in the plasma and the fraction of the absorbed laser energy that is converted to thermal energy in the plasma remain constant, at least down to 0.2 atm.     

激光诱导Al等离子体在背景气体中的流体现象

调Q-YAG脉冲激光（波长1.06μm,脉宽10ns,能量为250mJ/pu1se）烧蚀Al靶,用短焦距照相系统和光学多道分析仪（OMA）记录了等离子体在氩气背景气体及不同压强下所呈现的流体现象及其等离子体辐射的空间分辨光谱。实验发现,当背景气压为400Pa以下时,在靶面上存在一个明亮的发光球体,球体直径远大于激光烧蚀斑的大小,此球体向四周辐射等离子体光谱,只是在垂直靶面的方向辐射相对较强。在气压约为400Pa,等离子体辐射才以较为明显的羽状体形态向前喷散,且随气压增高,喷散的立体角变小。随着背景气压的继续升高,等离子体羽被压缩,成为一个明亮的发光小羽状体,当气压达20～30kPa,发光羽状体开始出现分解的迹象,在羽状体前端形成一个光球。气压继续升高,等离子体羽完全变成一串发光球。离开靶面越远,发光球的半径越大。用光学多道分析系统分析这些发光球的光谱特征,发现在靶面附近主要是Al等离子体的谱线,而较远的发光球,其主要谱线则来自背景气体。在气压为20kPa左右,等离子休羽呈现烧蚀点为明亮的白色亮点,而羽端为鲜艳绿色（氩的514nm）的彩色羽。     

Influence of ambient pressure on the performance of an arc discharge plasma actuator

The arc discharge plasma actuator (ADPA) has wide application prospects in high‐speed flow control because of its local heating effect and strong disturbance. In this paper, the influence of ambient pressure, which ranges from 3 to 20 kPa, on the performance of a two‐electrode ADPA is investigated by a schlieren system. The duration of the arc heated region, as well as its area, is extracted by image processing. As the ambient pressure increases, different flow field evolutions occur. The duration of the ADPA heated region increases with the ambient pressure. The maximum duration reaches 1185.3 µs at 20 kPa. The velocity of the discharge‐induced blast shock wave first decreases gradually and then remains at 345 m/s for all air pressures. The blast shock wave has a higher velocity at lower pressures when it is freshly produced. A maximum blast shock wave velocity of 582 m/s is observed at the pressure of 7 kPa. The arc heated region is not sensitive to ambient pressure, but the deposited energy from the arc increases when the pressure increases.     

Influence of ambient gas and its pressure on the laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy and the surface morphology of laser-ablated Cd

The ablation of Cd has been performed by employing Q-switched Nd: YAG 10 ns laser pulses with a central wavelength of 1064 nm for a pulsed energy of 200 mJ under various ambient environments of argon, air and helium. The optical emission spectroscopy of Cd plasma has been studied under different filling pressures of shield gases ranging from 5 torr to 760 torr using LIBS spectrometer system. The effect of different gases and their pressures on the intensity of spectral emission, electron temperature and density of the laser-produced plasma has been investigated. SEM analysis has been performed to investigate the dependence of surface morphological changes of an irradiated target on the nature and pressure of an ambient gas. A strong correlation has revealed the vital role of electron temperature and density of laser-induced plasma for the surface modification of Cd. These results strongly indicate that the nature and pressure of the ambient atmosphere is one of the controlling factors of the plasma characteristics, as well as the factors related to the laser energy absorption for surface modification.     

Experimental investigation of the effect of ambient pressure on laser-induced bubble dynamics

The effect of ambient pressure on the dynamics of laser-induced bubbles was investigated by a fiber-optic diagnostic technique based on probe beam deflection (PBD). The experimental criterion for judging the maximum bubble radius is modified to the average value of the detecting distances at which the characteristic waveform signals appear. The ambient pressure affects the maximum radius and collapse of bubble strongly. The experimental results indicate that the maximum bubble radius and the collapse time both decrease nonlinearly while the ambient pressure increases linearly, and the decreasing velocities of them are smaller at a larger ambient pressure. The predicted value of collapse time has a good agreement with experiment at larger ambient pressure.     

Generation and expansion of laser-induced plasma as a spectroscopic emission source

Laser-induced plasma represents today a widespread spectroscopic emission source. It can be easily generated using compact and reliable nanosecond pulsed laser on a large variety of materials. Its application for spectrochemical analysis for example with laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) has become so popular that one tends to forget the complex physical and chemical processes leading to its generation and governing its evolution. The purpose of this review article is to summarize the backgrounds necessary to understand and describe the laser-induced plasma from its generation to its expansion into the ambient gas. The objective is not to go into the details of each process; there are numerous specialized papers and books for that in the literature. The goal here is to gather in a same paper the essential understanding elements needed to describe laser-induced plasma as results from a complex process. These elements can be dispersed in several related but independent fields such as laser-matter interaction, laser ablation of material, optical and thermodynamic properties of hot and ionized gas, or plasma propagation in a background gas. We believe that presenting the ensemble of understanding elements of laser-induced plasma in a comprehensive way and in limited pages of this paper will be helpful for further development and optimized use of the LIBS technique. Experimental results obtained in our laboratory are used to illustrate the studied physical processes each time such illustration becomes possible and helpful.     

Comparative study of laser-induced plasma emission of hydrogen from zircaloy-2 samples in atmospheric and low pressure ambient helium gas

An experimental study has been performed to demonstrate the advantage of employing ambient helium gas in the spectral quality improvement of hydrogen emission in laser-induced plasma from zircaloy-2 samples at both atmospheric and low gas pressure. It was further shown that the optimal results achieved in the two pressure regimes require the adoption of different sets of experimental parameters consisting of the laser energy, the focusing lens position and the detection gate delay. A strictly linear calibration line with extrapolated zero intercept was nevertheless exhibited in the case of atmospheric gas pressure only. Additional time-evolution measurement of the emission intensities of hydrogen, helium and zirconium clearly suggests a distinctly different excitation mechanism for hydrogen atoms associated with the presence of ambient helium atoms and their meta-stable excited state. PACS 52.38 Mf     

Two-photon laser-induced fluorescence of H O and D O molecules at ambient pressure

We have carried out experiments of two-photon excitation of vapor phase H₂O and D₂O molecules at atmospheric pressure. A narrow-band tunable UV OPO laser is used in the experiments. Transient B ₁ → B ₁ emission from the excited predissociating state is seen in both cases. The complete B ₁ ← A ₁ fluorescence excitation spectrum in the spectral range of 245-250 nm is measured and compared with theory. It is shown that the predissociation rate increases with the rotational quantum number K' _a > 2 more strongly than with K ^′2 _a . No perturbation effects on the measured LIF spectra are observed at a laser power density below 2 GW/cm². Experimental results indicate a negligible contribution from both molecular association and collisions with atmospheric gases. Only an extremely weak vibrational progression belonging to the second positive system of N₂ has been observed, which appears to be due to energy and charge transfer in N ⁺ ₂ ^* + H ₂ O collisions. Received 25 January 2002 / Received in final form 27 May 2002 Published online 4 March 2003     

Early stage expansion and time-resolved spectral emission of laser-induced plasma from polymer

In the nanosecond laser ablation regime, absorption of laser energy by the plasma during its early stage expansion critically influences the properties of the plasma and thus its interaction with ambient air. These influences can significantly alter spectral emission of the plasma. For organic samples especially, recombination of the plasma with the ambient air leads to interfering emissions with respect to emissions due to native species evaporated from the sample. Distinguishing interfering emissions due to ambient air represents a critical issue for the application of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) to the analysis of organic materials. In this paper, we report observations of early stage expansion and interaction with ambient air of the plasma induced on a typical organic sample (nylon) using time-resolved shadowgraph. We compare, in the nanosecond ablation regime, plasmas induced by infrared (IR) laser pulses (1064 nm) and ultraviolet (UV) laser pulses (266 nm). Nanosecond ablation is compared with femtosecond ablation where the post-ablation interaction is absent. Subsequent to the early stage expansion, we observe for each studied ablation regime, spectral emission from CN, a typical radical for organic and biological samples. Time-resolved LIBS allows identifying emissions from native molecular species and those due to recombination with ambient air through their different time evolution behaviors.     

Influence of the ambient pressure on thin plate and film bending

The distributed lateral load on a plate located in a gas medium has been determined. The difference in the gas pressures of the plate surfaces results in a pressure drop and a lateral force, which depends on the middle surface curvature. It is shown that both these components of the lateral force must be taken into account in the general case. The influence of the second load component is small at a small ratio of the average pressure to the elastic modulus of the plate material and at a large relative thickness of the plate. At a small relative plate thickness and a large ratio of the average pressure of the medium to the elastic modulus of the plate material, the influence of the second component of the lateral load on the bending becomes significant. Cases of both linear and nonlinear plate bending are considered.     

Effect of ambient conditions on laser-induced breakdown spectra

The role of different ambient conditions on LIBS signal intensity was investigated for better understanding and performance of LIBS as a quantitative and qualitative analytical technique. For this purpose, the relative LIBS signal intensities were measured for a standard Cr line (520.8 nm) at different gas pressures of Ar, He, and air. The plasma was generated using a Q-switched pulsed Nd:YAG laser having wavelength of 1064 nm and pulse duration of 8 ns. The analysis revealed that the intensities of the spectral atomic Cr line (520.8 nm) were strongly enhanced under the argon environment in 10?C40 mbar range. The electron excitation temperature (T _e ) and number density (n _e ) were estimated by using a Boltzmann plot and a Stark broadening profile, respectively. For optimum dependence of LIBS, laser energy and pressure dependence was also studied. The electron temperature and number density showed an increase with increase in ambient gas pressure.     

强流脉冲离子束烧蚀等离子体向背景气体中喷发的数值研究

强流脉冲离子束辐照靶材产生烧蚀等离子体向背景气体中传播与向真空中传播不同，包括喷发等离子体与背景气体的相互作用.本文建立了该过程的二维气体动力学模型，计算了等离子体向压强范围从10^-6大气压到大气压背景气体中传播时的情况.结果表明，背景气体压强不同时，等离子体传播的现象也不相同.向真空中可以自由膨胀，向大气压中膨胀受限；当背景气压在千分之一大气压左右时，等离子体在背景气体中形成“雪犁”状，羽状等离子体出现快速和慢速传播分离现象.     

Effect of ionization on laser-induced plume self-similar expansion

The dynamics of a laser ablation plume during the first stage of its expansion, just after the termination of the laser pulse is modelled. The one-dimensional expansion of the evaporated material, considered as an ideal fluid, is governed by one-fluid Euler equations. For high energetic ions, the charge separation can be neglected and the hydrodynamics equations solved using self-similar formulation. Numerical solution is obtained, first when the laser fluence range is low enough to deal with a neutral vapor, and in a second stage, when ionization effects on the expansion are taken into account, for different material targets. As a main result, we found that the presence of ions in the evaporated gas enhances the self-similar expansion.     

压力膨化后的热处理温度对PP蜂窝膜驻极体机电性质的影响

研究了经压力膨化后的热处理温度对聚丙烯蜂窝膜(cellular PP)驻极体机电性能的影响.结果表明，在从常温至PP熔融温区内，压力膨化工艺处理后PP蜂窝膜的厚度随着热处理温度的升高而逐渐增大；然而热处理温度对PP蜂窝膜的压电活性及其相关性质的影响具有显著不同的规律，在90℃时，PP蜂窝膜的弹性模量和机电耦合系数分别出现谷值和峰值，同时压电d₃₃系数达到377pC/N的最大值.随着热处理温度的升高，它们的谐振频率的变化范围约为794到371kHz. 关键词： 热处理温度 PP蜂窝膜 压电性 压力膨化工艺     

Influence of plasma pressure on the growth characteristics and ferroelectric properties of sputter-deposited PZT thin films

PZT thin films of thickness (320-1040) nm were synthesized on Si/SiO₂/Ti/Pt multilayered substrates by radio frequency magnetron sputtering. The influence of plasma pressure in the range of (0.24-4.9) Pa, during deposition, on the structural, electrical and ferroelectric properties of the PZT films was systematically studied. X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy (XTEM) were employed for structural study. Nano-probe Energy Dispersive (EDX) line scanning was employed to investigate the elemental distribution across the film-bottom electrode interface. I-V characteristics and polarization-electric field (P-E) hysteresis loop of the films were measured. The study reveals that the plasma pressure has a strong influence on the evolution and texture of the ferroelectric perovskite phase and microstructure of the films. At an optimum plasma pressure of 4.1 Pa, PZT films are grown with 93% perovskite phase with (1 1 1) preferred orientation and uniform granular microstructure. These films show a saturation polarization of 67 μC/cm², remnant polarization of 30 μC/cm² and coercive field of 28 kV/cm which, according to the literature, seem to be suitable for device applications.Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) study shows that at a plasma pressure of 4.1 Pa, the PZT/bottom Pt interface is sharp and no amorphous interlayer is formed at the interface. At a higher plasma pressure of 4.9 Pa, poor I-V and P-E hysteresis loop are observed which are interpreted as due to an amorphous interlayer at the film-bottom electrode interface which is possibly enriched in Pb, Zr, O and Pt.     

Effects of laser intensity and ambient conditions on the laser-induced plume

Laser ablation presents a promising technique for material processing. The quality of products is strongly influenced by the properties of the laser-induced plume. In compressible flow, the ambient conditions can be transmitted upstream. Therefore, the laser ablation process is strongly affected by the ambient conditions. In this paper, the effects of laser intensity, back pressure and temperature on the laser-induced plume were studied using a numerical model, which calculates the density, pressure and temperature of the laser-induced plume at different laser intensity and ambient conditions. The results are in agreement with experimental results available in the literature and can be used for the optimization of the pulsed laser deposition process.     

Influence of ambient pressure on the hole formation in laser deep drilling

We investigate the temporal evolution of the hole depth and shape for percussion drilling at different ambient pressure conditions. Deep drilling is performed in silicon as target material by ultrashort laser pulses at 1030 nm and a duration of 8 ps. Simultaneously, the backlit silhouette of the hole is imaged perpendicular to the drilling direction. While typical process phases like depth development and shape evolution are very similar for atmospheric pressure down to vacuum conditions (10^?2 mbar), the ablation rate in the initial process phase is significantly increased for reduced pressure. The number of pulses till the stop of the drilling process also increases by a pressure reduction and exceeds drilling at atmospheric conditions by two orders of magnitude for a pressure of ca. 10^?2 mbar. Accordingly, the maximum achievable hole depth is more than doubled. We attribute this behavior to an enlarged mean free path for ablation products at reduced pressure and therefore lower or no deposition of particles inside the hole capillary under vacuum conditions while debris fills the hole already after a few thousand pulses at atmospheric pressure. This is supported by scanning electron cross section images of the holes.