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Title: Expansion dynamics and chemistry evolution in ultrafast laser filament produced plasmas

Journal Article · · Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1039/D0CP00078G· OSTI ID:1634906

Laser ablation in conjunction with optical emission spectroscopy is a potential non-contact, standoff detection method for all elements in the periodic table and certain isotopes such as radionuclides. Currently, significant development efforts are on-going to use ultrafast laser filaments for remote sensing. The application of filaments is of particular interest in extending the range of stand-off capability associated with elemental and isotopic detection via laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy. In this study, we characterize the expansion dynamics and chemical evolution of filament-produced uranium (U) plasmas. Laser filaments are generated in the laboratory by loosely focusing 35 femtosecond (fs), 6 milli Joule (mJ) pulses in air. Two-dimensional spectrally-integrated and time-resolved imaging was performed to study hydrodynamics and evolution of U atomic and UO molecular emission in filament-produced U plasmas. Our results highlight that filament ablation of U plasmas gives a cylindrical plasma plume morphology with an appearance of plume splitting into slow and fast moving components at later times of its evolution. Emission from the slow-moving region shows no distinct spectral features (i.e. broadband-like) and is contributed in part by nanoparticles generated during ultrafast laser ablation. Additionally, we find U atoms and U oxide molecules (i.e. UO, UxOy) co-exist in the filament produced plasma, which can be attributed to the generation of low-temperature plasma conditions during filament ablation

Research Organization:
Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
AC05-76RL01830
OSTI ID:
1634906
Report Number(s):
PNNL-SA-150315
Journal Information:
Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, Vol. 22, Issue 16
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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