Plasma Formation Threshold Research Articles

Wavelength Effects on the Reflectivity of Niobium by Solid-State Laser Pulses

This study utilized solid-state lasers with a 50 ns pulse duration in a Q-switched mode of operation at wavelengths of 1.06 µm and 0.69 µm to investigate the hemispherical reflectivity of niobium. Our experimental results show that the reflectivity of niobium decreases notably as the laser fluence increases towards the plasma formation threshold for ablation at both studied wavelengths, which we attribute to changes in the absorptivity of the surface resulting from plasma formation. We also observed a significant effect of laser wavelength on the reflectivity values of the sample at low laser fluence. By determining the threshold fluence values for each wavelength, we estimated the surface temperature associated with the threshold fluence for plasma formation. Our calculations revealed discrepancies between published values for optically polished and mechanically polished niobium, which we suggest may be due to the presence of nano/micro defects, oxide films, and contaminants that amplify the wavelength-dependent effects on reflectivity. These findings have important implications for the design of optical components and laser processing techniques that use niobium, as well as for the development of accurate models of laser-material interactions. Further research is needed to fully understand the underlying mechanisms driving the observed effects and to explore potential applications of niobium in laser-based technologies.

Dynamics of the Femtosecond Mid-IR Laser Pulse Impact on a Bulk Silicon

In this study, we reconstructed the dynamics of the impact of mid-IR-range (4.6 μm) femtosecond laser pulses on bulk silicon under tight focusing conditions (NA = 0.5). Our experimental results show that under this impact, the deposited energy density (DED) reaches approximately 4 kJ/cm3 (at an energy slightly above the plasma-formation threshold). Initially, the femtosecond pulse energy is absorbed by the laser-induced plasma, with a lifetime of approximately 160–320 fs (depending on the laser pulse energy). The energy transfer from the plasma to the atomic subsystem occurs on a sub-ps timescale, which generates a shock wave and excites coherent phonons on a sub-ps scale. The shift of atoms in the lattice at the front of the shock wave results in a cascade of phase transitions (Si-X => Si-VII => Si-VI => Si-XI => Si-II), leading to a change in the phonon spectra of silicon.

Laser-Induced Ion Formation and Electron Emission from a Nanostructured Gold Surface at Laser Fluence below the Threshold for Plasma Formation.

The laser formation of positive and negative ions on a nanostructured metal surface is observed at laser fluence below the plasma formation threshold. The laser radiation energy dependences of the yield of positive and negative Au ions and charged clusters as well as electrons from the laser-induced nanostructures on the surface of gold are obtained at laser fluence below the plasma formation threshold using a pulsed laser with a wavelength of 355 nm and a pulse duration of 0.37 ns. It is shown that the ratio of the signals of positive and negative ions is constant over the entire range of the laser radiation energies, while the ion signal dependence on the laser radiation energy is described by a power function with an exponent of 9. The role of gold nanoparticles with a size of less than 5 nm in the formation of Au ions and charged Au clusters is discussed.

Bubble dynamics of laser-induced cavitation in plasmonic gold nanorod solutions and the relative effect of surface tension and viscosity

Laser-induced cavitation (LIC) bubbles and the shockwaves they form upon collapse are destructive to nearby solid boundaries, making them of interest for biomedical and industrial applications. Furthermore, the LIC bubbles provide spatial control that can be tuned by the bubble size, collapse time and shockwave intensity. The inclusion of plasmonic nanoparticles, such as gold nanoparticles (GNP) in the liquids where LIC bubbles are formed, can further enhance the absorption of light, allowing for bubble formation at lower laser energies. However, the effect of the physical properties of such liquids on LIC bubble dynamics remains unknown. In this study, the dynamics of LIC bubbles in water–ethanol, water-glycerol, and water-GNP solutions were investigated by simultaneous high-speed shadowgraphy and spatial transmittance modulation. The first set of experiments demonstrated that LIC bubbles induced in the GNP solutions led to more efficient cavitation formation with lower fluence compared to solutions without GNPs, thereby producing higher-intensity pressure waves. A second set of experiments was conducted to determine the surface tension of GNP solutions at room temperature and was found to be 70.62 mN/m. With this information, and the corresponding values reported in the literature for ethanol and glycerol, we aimed at discerning the role of surface tension and viscosity on the dynamics of LIC bubbles, apart from the enhanced optical absorption of the GNP solutions. We observed that the optical breakdown threshold for plasma formation was reduced by 18% in GNP solutions as compared to DI water and 10.4% compared to ethanol, and the intensity of initial shockwaves in the GNP solutions was much higher than those in DI water. This enhanced intensity of shockwaves in GNP solutions compared to DI water opens a new avenue for the enhancement of cancer cell treatment and anti-bacterial applications in the biomedical field and the enhancement of the laser ablation technique in the industrial setting.

Role of wavelength in photocarrier absorption and plasma formation threshold under excitation of dielectrics by high-intensity laser field tunable from visible to mid-IR

The development of high power mid-IR laser applications requires a study on laser induced damage threshold (LIDT) in the mid-IR. In this paper we have measured the wavelength dependence of the plasma formation threshold (PFT) that is a LIDT precursor. In order to interpret the observed trends numerically, a model describing the laser induced electron dynamics, based on multiple rate equations, has been developed. We show both theoretically and experimentally that PFT at mid-IR wavelengths is controlled by a transition from weak- to strong-field regime of free carrier absorption. In the case of MgF_2 this transition occurs around 3–4 upmum corresponding to the region of the lowermost PFT. The region of the uppermost PFT is reached around 1 upmum and is governed by an interplay of photoionization and weak-field free carrier absorption which manifests itself in both MgF_2 and SiO_2. The PFT observed in considered materials exhibits a universal dependence on the excitation wavelength in dielectrics. Thus, the presented results pave the route towards efficient and controllable laser-induced material modifications and should be of direct interest to laser researchers and application engineers for prevention of laser-induced damage of optical components in high-intensity mid-IR laser systems.

Quantification of heavy metals in oils with µL volume by laser induced breakdown spectroscopy and minimazing of the matrix effect

In this work we describe a method for preparation and analysis of oils by Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS), aimed to minimize the necessary sample volume and the matrix effect while maximizing the detection sensitivity and measurement's repeatability. The preparation procedure consists in stabilizing the oil sample and silica wafer substrate at a fixed temperature, here of 40 °C, and in delivering an oil droplet on the wafer rotated by a spin coater. In this way, a uniform oil film is obtained, which thickness is controlled through the rotation speed. So prepared target is then scanned by using the LIBS instrument. From comparative measurements on the pure oil and oil containing 2100 ppm of various elements, we studied different potentials sources of the matrix effect. During the sample preparation, above a certain rotation speed the thickness of the liquid film is the same for the two oils although their kinematic viscosities are very different, meaning that the volume sampled by LIBS is the same. The measured oil transmissivity at the laser wavelength of 1064 nm significantly decreases with concentration of impurities, but this effect could be neglected when dealing with very thin films. The plasma formation threshold measured on the bulk oil samples decreases with the impurity content. In case of pure oil, also for the maximum laser energy here used (165 mJ), the plasma is mainly initiated on the wafer while the presence of impurities increases screening of the substrate by the plasma formed directly on the oil. The matrix effect disappears on a very thin film, here of 0.74 μm, where the C I line intensity in plasma does not vary with the total concentration of impurities between zero and 2100 ppm; simultaneously, the plasma emission becomes stable from one laser pulse to another, contrary to the case of a thick liquid layer. At 0.5 μs from the laser pulse the plasma electron density is much higher in presence of oil than on the bare substrate because of the initial plume confinement. In the optimized experimental conditions the plasma emission from oil was very intense although the sample volume probed by each laser pulse was of 0.3 nL only. By choosing properly the signal acquisition delay and the calibration procedure, the latter is dependent on the excitation energy of the analytical lines, we obtained the detection limits of 3.9 ppm, 0.49 ppm, 0.16 ppm and 0.082 ppm for Zn, Cd, Cu and Cr in oil, respectively.

Significant change in threshold for plasma formation and evolution with small variation in copper alloys driven by a mega-ampere current pulse

We report the first observation of a significant change in plasma formation and evolution caused by a small change in the material composition (metal alloy). Thick copper rod alloys were varied in the initial diameter from 0.5 mm to 1.59 mm and pulsed to 1 mega-ampere (MA) peak current in 100 ns with a surface magnetic field rising nearly linearly at 45–80 MG/μs. The copper rods were diagnosed with surface radiometry, two-frame laser shadowgraphy, two-frame surface emission imaging, and time resolved load current measurements. Diagnostics determined time resolved surface temperature, surface expansion rates, time of surface plasma formation, and the growth rates of surface instabilities. Data indicate that copper alloy Cu-145 (99.5% Cu, 0%–0.7% Te, 0%–0.012% P) undergoes surface plasma formation when the surface magnetic field reaches 3.0 ± 0.1 MG whereas Cu-101 (>99.99% Cu) forms surface plasma at 3.5 ± 0.2 MG. The Cu-145 alloys also reach higher peak temperatures and form surface instabilities earlier in the current pulse.

New type of large-scale experiments for laboratory astrophysics with collimated jets of laser plasma in a transverse magnetic field

We report the results for the first complex experiment on the formation of an extended (up to ∼0.5 m) plasma jet in a magnetic field (up to 300 G) in vacuum. The jet appears due to the injection of laser plasma bunches with a kinetic energy up to ∼50 J across the magnetic field (in a solid angle Ω ≈ 1 sr) and a high degree of magnetisation of ions on the calculated scale field-induced deceleration of the bunch as a part of a sphere. A plastic target (polyethylene) has been irradiated by a CO2 laser in the most energy-efficient regime (near the plasma formation threshold), implemented at the expense of a wide radiation spot (diameter 2 – 3 cm) on the target. In a new-type model Super-Jet experiment on a large KI-1 facility at the Institute of Laser Physics, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences (ILP SB RAS), the probe data on the internal structure and dynamics of plasma concentration and magnetic field strength in transverse jets, on the influence of instabilities and Hall effect have been obtained for the first time in laboratory modelling of space and astrophysical jets.

Ultrafast third harmonic generation imaging of microplasma at the threshold of laser-induced plasma formation in solids

We present a method of ultrafast laser-induced microplasma mapping based on the third harmonic generation at tightly focused laser beams in solids. The technique gives a submicron resolution and can be applied for two-dimensional imaging of laser-induced microplasma with the electron density as low as 10−5 ncr produced by a femtosecond laser driver at the plasma formation threshold. High sensitivity and contrast are dictated by nonlinear behavior of the third harmonic yield with the laser field. The demonstrated method gives an opportunity to increase the precision of plasma volume determination in the field of material microstructuring.

Generation of laser plasma bunches with a high efficiency of energy concentration for laboratory simulation of collisionless shock waves in magnetised cosmic plasma

We present the results of first experiments on the formation of collisionless shock waves (CSWs) in background plasma by injecting laser plasma bunches transverse to the magnetic field (as a piston) with a maximum energy up to per unit of solid angle and with a high enough degree of ion magnetisation. With this aim in view, on a unique KI-1 facility at the Institute of Laser Physics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (ILP), a plastic (polyethylene) target irradiated by a laser in the most energy-efficient regime (near the plasma formation threshold) and a highly ionised hydrogen plasma with a high concentration in a large volume (not less than ) have been employed. As a result of model experiments performed on the basis of a model of collisionless interaction of plasma flows, developed at the VNIIEF and being adequate to the problem under consideration, not only an intensive, background-induced, deceleration of a super-Alfven laser plasma flow, but also the formation in that flow of a strong perturbation having the properties of a subcritical CSW and propagating transverse to the magnetic field, have been first registered in the laboratory conditions.

Optical Emission Studies of Copper Plasma Induced Using Infrared Transversely Excited Atmospheric (IR TEA) Carbon Dioxide Laser Pulses.

Spatially resolved, time-integrated optical emission spectroscopy was applied for investigation of copper plasma produced by a nanosecond infrared (IR) transversely excited atmospheric (TEA) CO2 laser, operating at 10.6 μm. The effect of surrounding air pressure, in the pressure range 0.1 to 1013 mbar, on plasma formation and its characteristics was investigated. A linear dependence of intensity threshold for plasma formation on logarithm of air pressure was found. Lowering of the air pressure reduces the extent of gas breakdown, enabling better laser-target coupling and thus increases ablation. Optimum air pressure for target plasma formation was 0.1 mbar. Under that pressure, the induced plasma consisted of two clearly distinguished and spatially separated regions. The maximum intensity of emission, with sharp and well-resolved spectral lines and negligibly low background emission, was obtained from a plasma zone 8 mm from the target surface. The estimated excitation temperature in this zone was around 7000 K. The favorable signal to background ratio obtained in this plasma region indicates possible analytical application of TEA CO2 laser produced copper plasma. Detection limits of trace elements present in the Cu sample were on the order of 10 ppm (parts per million). Time-resolved measurements of spatially selected plasma zones were used to find a correlation between the observed spatial position and time delay.

Experimental study on reflection of high-intensity nanosecond Nd:YAG laser pulses in ablation of metals

The total reflectivity of tin and magnesium in ablation by nanosecond Nd:YAG laser pulses in air is studied. It was found that the high initial reflectivity of the studied metals undergoes a significant drop to values of 0.11 for Sn and 0.16 for Mg within a laser fluence range between about 0.8 and 11J/cm2. These reduced reflectivity values remain virtually unchanged with further increasing laser fluence. This study shows that a significant reflectivity decrease of the studied metals is caused by plasma formation in front of the irradiated surface. Below the plasma formation threshold, the reflectivity of the studied metals is observed to be virtually independent of laser fluence, indicating a small role of Drude׳s temperature effect on the reflectivity of the studied samples.

Multipulse nanosecond laser modification of steel surface

Results of surface modification are presented for MnNiCrMo-steel samples exposed to a Nd:YAG laser operating in a pulse-periodic mode (10 Hz frequency, 532 nm wavelength and 17 ns pulse duration). The steel samples were irradiated in air by a series of laser pulses at a fluence of 10.7 J cm−2 close to a plasma formation threshold. Surface structures were examined by optical, scanning electron and confocal optical microscopy. The appearance of the detected surface structures strongly depends on the number of laser pulses and power density of laser radiation. Significant differences were found between laser-induced structures in the center of the laser spot, at its edges and in the nearest surrounding of the laser spot. The reasons for such differences are discussed.

Investigation on laser–plasma coupling in intense, ultrashort irradiation of a nanostructured silicon target

One of the most interesting research fields in laser–matter interaction studies is the investigation of effects and mechanisms produced by nano- or micro-structured targets, mainly devoted to the enhancing of laser–target or laser–plasma coupling. In intense and ultra-intense laser interaction regimes, the observed enhancement of x-ray plasma emission and/or hot electron conversion efficiency is explained by a variety of mechanisms depending on the dimensions and shape of the structures irradiated. In the present work, the attention is mainly focused on the lowering of the plasma formation threshold which is induced by the larger absorptivity.Flat and nanostructured silicon targets were here irradiated with an ultrashort laser pulse, in the range 1 × 1017–2 × 1018 W µm2 cm−2. The effects of structures on laser–plasma coupling were investigated at different laser pulse polarizations, by utilizing x-ray yield and 3/2ω harmonics emission. While the measured enhancement of x-ray emission is negligible at intensities larger than 1018 W µm2 cm−2, due to the destruction of the structures by the amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) pre-pulse, a dramatic enhancement, strongly dependent on pulse polarization, was observed at intensities lower than ∼3.5 × 1017 W µm2 cm−2. Relying on the three-halves harmonic emission and on the non-isotropic character of the x-ray yield, induced by the two-plasmon decay instability, the results are explained by the significant lowering of the plasma threshold produced by the nanostructures. In this view, the strong x-ray enhancement obtained by s-polarized pulses is produced by the interaction of the laser pulse with the preplasma, resulting from the interaction of the ASE pedestal with the nanostructures.

Cold ablation driven by localized forces in alkali halides

Laser ablation has been widely used for a variety of applications. Since the mechanisms for ablation are strongly dependent on the photoexcitation level, so called cold material processing has relied on the use of high-peak-power laser fluences for which nonthermal processes become dominant; often reaching the universal threshold for plasma formation of ~1 J cm(-2) in most solids. Here we show single-shot time-resolved femtosecond electron diffraction, femtosecond optical reflectivity and ion detection experiments to study the evolution of the ablation process that follows femtosecond 400 nm laser excitation in crystalline sodium chloride, caesium iodide and potassium iodide. The phenomenon in this class of materials occurs well below the threshold for plasma formation and even below the melting point. The results reveal fast electronic and localized structural changes that lead to the ejection of particulates and the formation of micron-deep craters, reflecting the very nature of the strong repulsive forces at play.

A comparative study on reflection of nanosecond Nd-YAG laser pulses in ablation of metals in air and in vacuum

A comparative study on reflection of nanosecond Nd-YAG laser pulses in ablation of aluminum in air and in vacuum under the same other experimental conditions is performed. We find that, hemispherical total reflectivity of aluminum undergoes a sharp drop at the plasma formation threshold both in the air and in vacuum. The initial large value (0.8) of aluminum reflectivity decreases to a level of about 0.14 and 0.24 for ablation in the air and in vacuum, respectively. These decreased reflectivity values remain virtually unchanged with further increasing laser fluence. The reflectivity drop in the air is observed to be sharper than in vacuum. Our study indicates that the reflectivity drop is predominantly caused by absorption of the laser light in plasma. Nano/micro-structural defects present on practical sample surfaces play the important role in the plasma formation, especially for the ablation in the air, where the plasma formation threshold is found to be by a factor of 3 smaller than in vacuum.

Selective Sampling and Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) Analysis of Organic Explosive Residues on Polymer Surfaces

A method for selective sampling and analysis of explosive residues on solid surfaces based on laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is presented. Organic explosives are difficult to analyze when present as residues on organic materials. Under these circumstances LIBS suffers from the limitations imposed by the limited spectroscopic information available for the analysis. Since ablation and subsequent plasma formation are sensitive to the beam focal conditions and the pulse energy deposited on the surface, the choice of an appropriate set of experimental conditions increases the surface sensitivity of the analysis and hence a selective inspection of the residue in the absence of spectral contribution from the organic support analyzed. 2-Mononitrotoluene (MNT), 2,6-dinitrotoluene (DNT), and 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) are used as model residues, whereas nylon and Teflon are used as illustrative surfaces of daily life objects. The results demonstrate that selective sampling is successfully achieved in all cases when the plasma formation threshold of the residues and the object is substantially different. Plasma imaging demonstrates that the species distribution along the plume changes with beam focal conditions, which is exploited here to further increase the selectivity of the approach.

Reflection of high-intensity nanosecond Nd:YAG laser pulses by metals

Total reflectivity of silver and molybdenum samples irradiated by high-intensity nanosecond Nd:YAG laser pulses in air of atmospheric pressure is experimentally studied as a function of laser fluence in the range of 0.1–100 J/cm2. The study shows that at laser fluences below the plasma formation threshold the total reflectivity of both silver and molybdenum remains virtually equal to the table room-temperature reflectivity values. The total reflectivity of these metals begins to decrease at a laser fluence of the plasma formation threshold. As the laser fluence increases above the plasma formation threshold, the reflectivity sharply drops to a low value and then remains unchanged with further increasing laser fluence. Calculation of the surface temperature at the plasma formation threshold fluence shows that the surface temperature value is substantially below the melting point that indicates an important role of the surface nanostructural defects in the plasma formation on a real sample due to their enhanced heating caused by both plasmonic absorption and plasmonic nanofocusing.

Visible laser induced positive ion emissions from NaCl nanoparticles prepared by droplet rapid drying

A novel convenient way for the formation of sodium chloride (NaCl) nanoparticles on silicon wafer is proposed by using a droplet rapid drying method. The laser induced positive ion emissions from NaCl nanoparticles with and without water treatment is demonstrated by using a laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometer, with laser intensity well below the plasma formation threshold. It is found that the positive ion emissions from NaCl nanoparticles are obviously higher than that from microsize NaCl particles under soft 532nm laser irradiations, and water adsorption can efficiently enhance the ion emissions from NaCl nanoparticles. The initial kinetic energies of the emitted ions are estimated as 16–17eV. The synergy of the ultra-thermal effect in nanomaterials, the defect-mediated multiphoton processes, and the existence of intermediate states in NaCl-water interfaces are suggested as the mechanisms.

Reflection of nanosecond Nd:YAG laser pulses in ablation of metals

Hemispherical total reflectivity of copper, nickel, and tungsten in ablation by nanosecond Nd:YAG laser pulses in air of atmospheric pressure is experimentally studied as a function of laser fluence in the range of 0.1-100 J/cm(2). Our experiment shows that at laser fluences below the plasma formation threshold the reflectivity of mechanically polished metals remains virtually equal to the table room-temperature reflectivity values. The hemispherical total reflectivity of the studied metals begins to drop at a laser fluence of the plasma formation threshold. With increasing laser fluence above the plasma formation threshold the reflectivity sharply decreases to a low value and then remains unchanged with further increasing laser fluence. Computation of the surface temperature at the plasma formation threshold fluence reveals that its value is substantially below the melting point that indicates an important role of the surface nanostructural defects in the plasma formation on a real sample due to their enhanced heating caused by both plasmonic absorption and plasmonic nanofocusing.