Dynamics of excimer laser-ablated aluminum neutral atom plume measured by dye laser resonance absorption photography

Journal Article · Mon Apr 15 04:00:00 EDT 1991 · Applied Physics Letters; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.105136· OSTI ID:5838559

Gilgenbach, R M; Ventzek, P L.G. ^[1]

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1. Intense Energy Beam Interaction Laboratory, Nuclear Engineering Department, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-2104 (US)

We report the first dye laser resonance absorption photographs of a single species of aluminum ground-state neutral atoms in the plume ablated from solid aluminum by KrF excimer laser radiation. Aluminum ground-state neutral atoms were diagnosed by illuminating the ablated plume with a dye laser tuned to the 3{sup 2}{ital P}{sub 1/2}--4{sup 2}{ital S}{sub 1/2} transition at 394.4 nm. Measurements have been performed in vacuum as well as in argon and air environments. Streaming velocities measured for neutral aluminum atoms in vacuum ranged from 0.5{times}10{sup 6} cm/s at low excimer laser fluences of 1--2 J/cm{sup 2} to 3.4{times}10{sup 6} cm/s at high fluences of 7 J/cm{sup 2}. Dye laser resonance absorption photography measurements of ablated aluminum in argon and air showed slower expansion at 50 and 200 Torr, while observations at 760 Torr indicate turbulent mixing of aluminum neutrals near the surface. Differences between data in argon and air may be due to oxidation of neutral aluminum atoms.

• OSTI ID: 5838559
• Journal Information: Applied Physics Letters; (USA), Journal Name: Applied Physics Letters; (USA) Vol. 58:15; ISSN APPLA; ISSN 0003-6951
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700102* -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Diagnostics
ABLATION
ABSORPTION
ALUMINIUM
ELEMENTS
LASER SPECTROSCOPY
LASER-PRODUCED PLASMA
LASL
METALS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
PHOTOGRAPHY
PLASMA
PLASMA DIAGNOSTICS
PLUMES
RESONANCE ABSORPTION
SPECTROSCOPY
US AEC
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS