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

Journal Article · · Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics. PCCP
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1039/d0cp00078g· OSTI ID:1735575
ORCiD logo [1];  [2];  [1];  [3]; ORCiD logo [1]
  1. Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
  2. Opticslah, LLC, Albuquerque, NM (United States)
  3. Opticslah, LLC, Albuquerque, NM (United States); Univ. of Arizona, Tucson, AZ (United States). James C. Wyant College of Optical Sciences

Laser ablation in conjunction with optical emission spectroscopy is a potential non-contact, stand-off 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 detection of materials. 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. Here 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. Time-resolved, two-dimensional plume and spectral 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 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 component 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:
Opticslah, LLC, Albuquerque, NM (United States); Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation
Grant/Contract Number:
AC05-76RL01830; SC0017728
OSTI ID:
1735575
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1605950
Journal Information:
Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics. PCCP, Vol. 22, Issue 16; ISSN 1463-9076
Publisher:
Royal Society of ChemistryCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 17 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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