Laser ablation of lithium and lithium/cadmium alloy studied by time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Ablation of solid lithium and lithium/cadmium alloy was performed by a 308-nm, nanosecond excimer laser. Analysis of the atomic and molecular composition of the plume in vacuum and in nitrogen atmosphere was performed by means of a linear time-of-flight mass spectrometer. Several ionic masses were observed and systematically studied with respect to the laser fluence, laser beam spot size, background pressure, and target composition. PACS 52.38.Mf; 52.50.Jm; 82.80.Rt