Radial characteristics of laser-induced plasma under the influence of air pressure

Abstract

Air pressure is one of the key factors affecting laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), and the mechanism of its influence on the spatial–temporal evolution of laser-induced plasma (LIP) is still not fully understood due to complex physical processes. In this study, the spatially and temporally resolved LIP’s spectra at different pressures were collected from the direction of laser incidence, and the radial distribution characteristics of LIP along the target surface under the influence of air pressure were studied. Furthermore, the spatial–temporal evolution of the radial distribution of the electron density n e and electron temperature T e was studied using Stark broadening and a Boltzmann plot. Finally, the radial distribution of LIP satisfying the McWhirter criterion and the influence of air pressure on its spatial–temporal evolution were studied. It was found that air pressure has a significant effect on the radial distribution of LIP. The spectral intensity, electron density n e, and the electron temperature T e of the LIP decrease faster against distance r from the LIP core and slower with the delay time T d in a higher air-pressure environment. Furthermore, the LIP will gradually fail to satisfy the McWhirter criterion with the increase in the radius r and delay time T d; in addition, the lifetime of LIP, which satisfies the McWhirter criterion, is longer at higher pressure. This study is helpful in clarifying the influence of air pressure on the spatial–temporal evolution of LIP, optimizing the experimental parameters of LIBS, and providing a reference for application of LIBS.