Enhancement of the synthesis efficiency of carbon cluster ions by the irradiation of two laser pulses to polymers in vacuum

We investigated the effect of the pre-irradiation of a polymer target in vacuum, using a low-fluence laser pulse, on the synthesis efficiency of carbon cluster ions ejected by laser ablation. A polymer target was irradiated by two laser pulses. The first laser was used for the pre-irradiation, and the second laser was used for ablation. The masses of the ions in the ablation plume were analyzed by time-of-flight mass spectrometry. It was found that the synthesis efficiency of carbon cluster ions was enhanced by the pre-irradiation. The effects of the fluence of the pre-irradiation, the wavelengths of the lasers, and the interval between the oscillations of the two laser pulses on the enhancement of the cluster synthesis are reported. PACS 52.38.Mf; 81.07.-b; 36.40.-c; 61.46.+w