Laboratory experiments on cluster/aerosol formation by colliding ablation plumes

Abstract

First-of-a-kind experiments on cluster/aerosol formation by colliding ablation plumes have been conducted, radiating Al, Cu and C with 3ω-YAG laser at power densities between 2∼30 J/cm2/pulse. Visible spectroscopy indicates that the excitation light intensities of Cu and Al plumes are not necessarily be doubled in collision, but can rather be weakened due to atomic and molecular reactions. For colliding C plumes, Swan band radiation has been observed, indicative of C2 and/or C2+ formation, and ion mass spectrometry has identified Cn+-clusters, including C+, C2+, C3+, C4+ and C5+. From ICCD camera observations, C plumes generated at power densities above ∼15 J/cm2/pulse tend to split into two components with respective velocities, only the slow component of which appears to be interactive to form clusters. Nano structures like CNT have been identified in deposits from colliding C plumes.