Electrical characterization of plasma generation in KrF laser Cu ablation

Abstract

Ionization onset in the ablation plume from KrF laser-irradiated Cu targets in vacuum leads to a fast-rising voltage transient on the target. This, together with ion probe measurements, provides information on the plasma parameters. With 30 ns pulses, plasma initiates at ∼108 W cm -2; electron temperatures of 7 eV and ion energies of several hundred volts are produced at 2.2×108 W cm -2.