Effect of parameters on Si plasma emission in collinear double-pulse laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy

Collinear dual-pulse laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy was carried out on Si crystal by using a pair of nanosecond Nd:YAG laser sources emitting at 1064 nm. The spectral intensities and signalto-noise ratios of selected Si atomic and ionic lines were used to evaluate the optical emission. The optical emission intensity was recorded while varying the interpulse delay time and energy ratio of the two pulsed lasers. The effects of the data acquisition delay time on the line intensity and signal-to-noise ratio have been investigated as well. Based on the results, the optimal interpulse delay time, energy ratio of the two pulsed lasers, and data acquisition delay time for achieving the maximum atomic and ionic line intensities were found for generation of Si plasma with the collinear dual-pulse laser approach. The dominant mechanism for the observed line intensity variation was also discussed. In addition, the plasma temperature and electron number density at different gate delay times and different interpulse delay times were derived. A significant influence of plasma shielding on the electron temperature and electron number density at shorter interpulse delay times was observed.     

强激光束与空腔靶相互作用实验研究

1.06μm波长的强激光束辐照Au材料制作的空腔靶,采用目前国内最先进的诊断设备。对腔内高温等离子体现象演变规律进行了实验观察,获得了反射激光、能量吸收、X光转换、亚千X光能谱及时空特性、辐射温度、超热电子等重要物理信息,并就实验结果作了必要的分析和讨论     

脉冲Nd:YAG激光烧蚀Cu产生等离子体总辐射的时空分辨研究

通过时空分辨的光谱测量技术,测定了在环境气压下,Ｎｄ：ＹＡＧ脉冲激光烧蚀金属Ｃｕ产生等离子体的总辐射随时间与空间的强度分布,研究了烧蚀环境气压对总辐射强度的影响,提出了电子碰撞与复合激发模型。     

Observation of synchrotron radiation from electrons accelerated in a petawatt-laser-generated plasma cavity

The dynamics of plasma electrons in the focus of a petawatt laser beam are studied via measurements of their x-ray synchrotron radiation. With increasing laser intensity, a forward directed beam of x rays extending to 50 keV is observed. The measured x rays are well described in the synchrotron asymptotic limit of electrons oscillating in a plasma channel. The critical energy of the measured synchrotron spectrum is found to scale as the Maxwellian temperature of the simultaneously measured electron spectra. At low laser intensity transverse oscillations are negligible as the electrons are predominantly accelerated axially by the laser generated wakefield. At high laser intensity, electrons are directly accelerated by the laser and enter a highly radiative regime with up to 5% of their energy converted into x rays.     

Properties study of ZnO:Ga crystal on pulsed radiation detections

In this paper, properties on pulsed radiation detections of ZnO:Ga crystal grew by a magnetron sputtering method were studied. The time response to pulsed laser,pulsed hard X rays and single α particles, the energy response to pulsed hard X ray, the scintillation efficiency to γ rays, the response to pulsed proton, and the relations of the light intensity varied with the proton energy were measured and analyzed in detail. Results show that the ZnO:Ga crystal has potential applications in the regime of pulse radiation detection .     

Energy distribution of ions in plasma formed by laser ablation of metallic Nb and Ta targets

The laser plasma plume expansion induced by UV nanosecond irradiation from metallic Nb and Ta targets has been studied using Langmuir probe time-of-flight measurements. The ion current shape was measured as a function of the laser radiation flux at various probe-to-target distances. The ion velocity distribution and the ion energy spectra have been determined by measuring the time of flight of ions reaching the Langmuir probe. A multi-mode velocity distribution of ions has been revealed. The dependence of the amplitudes of the plume energy components on the plume scatter time and on the laser radiation flux has been investigated. The experimental time-of-flight data have been compared with a Maxwell velocity distribution. The threshold values of the laser intensity were determined for different distribution modes in the ion energy spectrum.     

Plasma Diagnostics Using K‐Line Emission Profiles of Silicon

Modifications of K‐line profiles due to a warm dense plasma environment are a suitable tool for plasma diagnostics. We focus on Si K_α emissions due to an electron transfer from 2P to 1S shell. Besides 2P fine structure effects we also consider the influence of excited and higher ionized emitters. Generally spoken, a plasma of medium temperature and high density (warm dense matter) is created from bulk Si the greater part of atoms is ionized. The high energy of K_α x‐rays is necessary to penetrate and investigate the Si sample. The plasma effect influences the many‐particle system resulting in an energy shift due to electron‐ion and electron‐electron interaction. In our work we focus on pure Si using LS coupling. Non‐perturbative wave functions are calculated as well as ionization energies, binding energies and relevant emission energies using the chemical ab initio code Gaussian 03. The plasma effect is considered within a perturbative approach to the Hamiltonian. Using Roothaan‐Hartree‐Fock wave functions we calculate the screening effect within an ion‐sphere model. The different excitation and ionization probabilities of the electronic L‐shell and M‐shell lead to a charge state distribution. Using this distribution and a Lorentz profile convolution with a Gaussian instrument function we calculate spectral line profiles depending on the plasma parameters. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Ion and photon emission from laser-generated titanium-plasma

Titanium-plasma was obtained by nanosecond pulsed laser ablation technique. A Nd:Yag laser was employed to irradiate titanium in vacuum. The ion emission from plasma was on-line monitored by an electrostatic ion energy analyzer which permitted to measure the ion kinetic energy and charge state. The visible photon emission was monitored by an optical spectrometer. The ion energy, charge state and angular distributions, the temperature and density of the non-equilibrium plasma were investigated. The temperature gradient of the plasma plume was evaluated and discussed.     

Characterization of x‐rays emerging from between reflector and sample carrier in reflector‐assisted TXRF analysis

The possible application of an Si reflector, which is placed just above the sample carrier in total reflection x‐ray fluorescence (TXRF) analysis, was investigated. The x‐rays that were emitted from an Mo tube and passed between the Si reflector and the Si sample carrier were analyzed with an Si drift detector. In our experimental setup, the angle between the reflector and the sample carrier can be changed by adjusting the inclination of the reflector. The intensity of the x‐rays that emerged from between the two Si surfaces drastically changed depending on the reflector angle. At a proper reflector angle, this intensity showed a maximum and, in addition, the Compton peak in the x‐ray spectrum was suppressed. When this x‐ray beam was used for excitation of TXRF signals, the highest intensity of x‐ray fluorescence emitted from the sample was detected, indicating that these experimental conditions are useful for the enhancement of TXRF intensities. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Excitation Mechanisms of Copper Ionic and Atomic Lines Emitted from a Low‐Pressure Argon Laser‐Induced Plasma

Abstract

Low‐pressure laser‐induced plasmas generated with a pulsed Nd∶YAG laser have complicated structures both temporally and spatially. The emission characteristics of the plasma are investigated for optimizing the experimental parameters in atomic emission spectrometry. The emission intensities of copper emission lines, measured in a time‐resolved as well as a time‐integrated mode, are strongly dependent on the kind of copper lines, ionic or atomic line, and the excitation energy. Also, the pressure of argon gas is the most important parameter for determining the behavior of these emission lines, including argon lines. Generally, copper ionic lines are dominantly emitted from the initial breakdown zone, because the copper ions are produced mainly in the hot breakdown zone. However, the Cu II 229.44‐nm line is emitted also from the expansion zone of the plasma. It results from an additional excitation process through the charge‐transfer collision particularly effective for the corresponding excited level. In this work, the excitation mechanisms for Cu I, Ar I, and Ar II lines are also discussed. The excitations occurring in the laser‐induced plasma can be well understood by taking the temporal and spatial variations in their intensities into consideration.     

Pulse intense metal-ion diode with a vacuum arc plasma anode

An intense pulsed ion beam of metal was extracted from a magnetically insulated ion diode operated in a mode of plasma prefill generated from a vacuum arc discharge, anode plasma source. With this ion diode, an intense metal-ion beam of a high melting-point metal (Ta) was obtained. A variety of operational modes appeared, depending on the amount of plasma in the diode gap at the initiation of the high-voltage pulse. The energy, current, and duration time of the ion beam were 20~100 keV, ~1 kA, and 1 μs, respectively. Measurements of ions were performed with an ion energy analyzer or a biased ion collector located at the end of a long drift tube and a Thomson parabola ion spectrometer. The Ta ions in the first to fifth states of ionization were detected accompanied by C⁺, O⁺, F⁺, and H⁺ . A Ta ion beam current of about half the total ion flux was obtained in this experiment     

样品温度对纳秒激光诱导Cu等离子体特征参数的影响

为了研究样品温度对激光诱导击穿Cu等离子体特征参数的影响,以黄铜为研究对象,在优化的实验条件下采用波长为532 nm的Nd∶YAG纳秒脉冲激光诱导激发不同温度下的块状黄铜,测量了Cu等离子体的特征谱线强度和信噪比;同时在局部热平衡条件下利用Boltzmann斜线法和Stark展宽法分析计算了不同的样品温度条件下等离子体电子温度和电子密度。实验结果表明,在激光功率为60 mW时,随着样品温度的升高,Cu的特征谱线强度和信噪比逐渐增加,样品温度为130 ℃时达到最大值,然后趋于饱和。计算表明,黄铜样品中Cu元素Cu Ⅰ 329.05 nm,Cu Ⅰ 427.51 nm,Cu Ⅰ 458.71 nm,Cu Ⅰ 510.55 nm,Cu Ⅰ 515.32 nm,Cu Ⅰ 521.82 nm, Cu Ⅰ 529.25 nm,Cu Ⅰ 578.21 nm八条谱线在130℃的相对强度相较于室温（18 ℃）下分别提高了11.55倍、4.53倍、4.72倍,3.31倍、4.47倍、4.60倍、4.25倍、4.55倍,光谱信噪比分别增大了1.35倍,2.29倍、1.76倍、2.50倍、2.45倍、2.28倍、2.50倍,2.53倍。分析认为,升高样品温度会增大样品的烧蚀质量,相对于温度较低状态增加了等离子体中样品粒子浓度,进而提高等离子体发射光谱强度。所以,适当升高样品温度能够提高谱线强度和信噪比,从而增强LIBS技术检测分析光谱微弱信号的测量精度,改善痕量元素的检测灵敏度。同时研究了改变样品温度时等离子体电子温度和电子密度的变化趋势。计算表明,当样品温度从室温上升到130 ℃的过程中,等离子体的电子温度由4 723 K上升到7 121 K时基本不再变化。这种变化规律与发射谱线强度和信噪比变化趋势一致。分析认为,这主要是由于在升高样品温度的初始阶段,激光烧蚀量增大,等离子体内能增大,从而导致等离子体电子温度升高。当激光烧蚀样品的量达到一定值后不再变化,激光能量被激发溅射出来的样品蒸发物以及尘粒的吸收、散射和反射,导致激光能量密度降低,电子温度趋于饱和,达到某种动态平衡。选用一条Cu原子谱线（324.75 nm）的Stark展宽系数计算激光等离子体的电子密度,同时研究改变样品温度时等离子电子密度的变化趋势,计算表明在样品温度为130 ℃时,Cu Ⅰ 324.75 nm对应的等离子电子密度相较于室温（18 ℃）条件下增大了1.74×1017 cm-3。该变化趋势与电子温度的变化趋势一致。适当升高样品温度使得电子密度增大,从而提高电子和原子的碰撞几率,激发更多的原子,这是增强光谱谱线强度的原因之一。由此可见,升高样品温度是一种便捷的提高LIBS检测灵敏度的有效手段。     

强流激光离子源中的等离子体参数诊断

强流激光离子源是最有希望为重离子聚变直线感应加速器提供离子的离子源之一。离子源内等离子体决定了离子源性能和引出品质,为了了解强流激光离子源内等离子体参数,采用发射光谱和ICCD成像的方法对该离子源中的等离子体进行了诊断。该离子源由一台四倍频的266 nm Nd:YAG激光器和Cu靶组成,激光束经过透镜聚焦后照射在Cu靶上产生等离子体,激光打靶能量密度约为108 W/cm2,持续时间15 ns。ICCD相机拍摄了激光照射后等离子体的膨胀过程,初始时刻等离子体垂直表面喷射,膨胀速度约为1 cm/s。光谱仪测量了离子发射光谱,谱线主要由Cu原子的Cu Ⅰ谱线和Cu+离子的Cu Ⅱ谱线组成。采用Boltzmann图法得到膨胀等离子体电子激发温度约为1 eV,采用Stark展宽法得到电子密度约为1016 cm-3。     

Measurements of plasma temperature and electron density in laser-induced copper plasma by time-resolved spectroscopy of neutral atom and ion emissions

Plasma produced by a 355 nm pulsed Nd:YAG laser with a pulse duration of 6 ns focussed onto a copper solid sample in air at atmospheric pressure is studied spectroscopically. The temperature and electron density characterizing the plasma are measured by time-resolved spectroscopy of neutral atom and ion line emissions in the time window of 300–2000 ns. An echelle spectrograph coupled with a gated intensified charge coupled detector is used to record the plasma emissions. The temperature is obtained using the Boltzmann plot method and the electron density is determined using the Saha-Boltzmann equation method. Both parameters are studied as a function of delay time with respect to the onset of the laser pulse. The results are discussed. The time window where the plasma is optically thin and is also in local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE), necessary for the laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) analysis of samples, is deduced from the temporal evolution of the intensity ratio of two Cu I lines. It is found to be 700–1000 ns.     

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy: technique,new features,and detection limits of trace elements in Al base alloy

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) has proven to be extremely versatile, providing multielement analysis in real time without sample preparation. The principle is based on the ablation of a small amount of target material by interaction of a strong laser beam with a solid target. The laser must have sufficient energy to excite atoms and to ionize them to produce plasma. We aimed to improve the LIBS limit of detection (LOD) and the precision of spectral lines emitted from the produced plasma by optimizing the parameters affecting the LIBS technique. LIBS LOD is affected by many experimental parameters such as interferences, self-absorption, spectral overlap, signal-to-noise ratio, and matrix effects. The plasma in the present study is generated by focusing a 6-ns pulsed Nd–YAG laser at the fundamental wavelength of 1,064 nm onto the Al target in air at atmospheric pressure. The emission spectra are recorded using an SE 200 Echelle spectrometer manufactured by the Catalina Corporation; it is equipped with an ICCD camera type Andor model iStar DH734-18. This spectrometer allows time-resolved spectral acquisition over the whole UV-NIR (200–1,000 nm) spectral range. Calibration curves for Cu, Mg, Mn, Si, Cr, and Fe were obtained with linear regression coefficients around 99 % on the average in aluminum standard alloy samples. The determined LOD has very useful improvements for Cu I at 521.85 nm, Si I at 288.15 nm, Mn I at 482.34 nm, and Cr I at 520.84 nm spectral lines. LOD is improved by 83.8 % for Cu, 49 % for Si, 84.3 % for Mn, and 45 % for Cr lower with respect to the previous works.     

同步双脉冲激光致声研究

利用高速摄像机拍摄了同步双脉冲激光聚焦击穿水介质产生激光空泡的运动过程。分析了该条件下产生的四种典型激光声信号特性,初步计算了光声能量转换效率。研究结果表明:通过调节脉冲激光的能量差,可以控制激光声信号峰值间隔,提高激光声信号脉宽;两空泡之间无量纲距离为1.5时,溃灭过程中出现融合现象,融合过程中空泡热力学能转化为机械能,融合后形成的单个空泡能量变大,其溃灭产生的激光声信号主频降低;同步双脉冲激光聚焦击穿情况下的光声能量转换效率为6%~10%。     

Simple technique for measurement of energy spectra of ions from laser produced plasma

Old absorption technique is revived for measuring the energy spectra of ions arising from laser generated plasma. The technique suggested relies on implantation of produced ions into a light element target situated close to the ion production site. Then the ion energy spectra are reconstructed from the depth profile of the implanted ions measured by some of the common depth profiling techniques such as RBS or SIMS. Theoretical range vs. ion energy relations are used for this purpose. In this study the principles of the method are explained and its capabilities are assessed. The feasibility of the method is demonstrated on the energy spectra of Ta ions arising from the laser generated plasma.     

Energy analysis of protons emitted from Nd:YAg laser-generated plasmas

Hydrogenated targets have been irradiated in vacuum with the pulsed Nd:YAg laser at intensities of the order of 10¹⁰ W/cm². The laser-generated plasma, produced by the interaction with the solid, emits protons and other ions along the normal to the target surface. Ion collectors and ion energy analyzer were used to measure the current, the angular emission and the energy distributions of the emitted protons. Time-of-flight measurements, Coulomb–Boltzmann-distributions and the fits of experimental data were also used in order to evaluate the equivalent ion plasma temperature and the ion acceleration developed in the non-equilibrium-pulsed plasma.     

Determination of the electron temperature of the tenuous pulsed argon ion laser plasma by means of the line intensity ratio technique

The validity of the diagnostic line-intensity ratio method for determination of the electron temperature was examined for a tenuous, NLTE pulsed argon ion laser plasma. Recently measured cross sections for simultaneous excitation and ionization of the upper levels of the argon ion laser were used and averaged over the velocity distribution, assumed Maxwellian. The electron temperature was determined by observing the sidelight intensity ratio of doublet 4765 Å and quartet 4806 Å transitions, and it was found to be 1.65 eV. This result is in agreement with electron temperature values obtained by the time resolved measurement and the double probe method, respectively. The theory of the positive column, where wall effects are not considered, gives somewhat larger values as an upper bound.     

Tantalum ion acceleration in laser‐generated plasma and dependence on the pulse duration

The laser irradiation of tantalum targets is presented for different pulsed laser intensities ranging from 10¹⁰ up to about 10¹⁸ W/cm² and pulse durations from 9 ns up to 40 fs. The results show that the produced non‐equilibrium plasma accelerates Ta ions in the backward direction from values of the order of keV up to values of about 5 MeV. In thin foils, the forward plasma, developed behind the target along the direction of incoming laser, at intensities of about 10¹⁶ W/cm² and 300 ps pulse duration, accelerates Ta ions at energies of the order of 4.6 MeV and produces charge states up to about 40+. For fs lasers at intensities of the order of 10¹⁸ W/cm², only proton acceleration occurs up to 2.1 MeV while no Ta ions are accelerated, due to the reduced duration of the electric field and to the too high inertial mass of the Ta ions.