Photodesorption Dynamics in Threshold-Fluence UV Laser Induced Surface-Decomposition of Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8

Abstract

ABSTRACTIn this article, we review experimental measurements taken in our laboratory for the low-fluence UV pulsed laser photodecomposition of the perovskite ceramic Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8. We present the measured photoejected product kinetic energy (KE) distributions, including that for the ion and the neutral, the atomic and polyatomic species. For the specific case of the neutral species desorption, we present new experimental results that elucidate the change in the photophysical desorption process as a function of the incident laser fluence. The results show the transition from the electronic-induced desorption to thermal evaporation as the laser fluence is increased. The KE distribution data suggests that for low-fluence laser excitation, the primary photodesorption process is two-hole localization at a binding site followed by coulomb repulsion. A fraction of the escaping ions acquire the full coulomb KE (e2/ro; ro internuclear distance). The neutral species acquire a partial fraction of the available KE (i.e., the KE gained prior to the neutralization). The appearance of polyatomic species desorption is explained via the spectator-stripping model.