Elemental laser secondary-neutral-mass spectroscopy signal enhancement in layer interfaces: New evidence for cluster contribution in nonresonant laser multiphoton postionization.

Abstract

We report evidence of a significant signal enhancement caused by fragmentation of heteronuclear metal clusters during interface analysis using laser secondary-neutral-mass spectroscopy (LSNMS). Measurements have been performed in Ti-Pt-Ti thin film interfaces and pure Ti. The LSNMS signal of atomic Ti shows a pronounced peak in the interfaces. A comparison of the velocity distributions of Ti atoms in the Ti-Pt interface and in the pure Ti layer clearly shows that clusters, in particular TiPt clusters, are responsible for the interface peak