Open AccessMicro- and nanoparticle generation during nanosecond laser ablation: correlation between mass and optical emissions
Author(s) -
S. Palanco,
Simeone Marino,
M. Gabás,
Shanti Bijani,
Luis F. Ayala,
J.R. Ramos-Barrado
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.22.003991
Subject(s) - laser ablation , nanosecond , materials science , nanoparticle , context (archaeology) , ablation , optics , scanning electron microscope , laser , emission spectrum , analytical chemistry (journal) , spectral line , nanotechnology , chemistry , physics , paleontology , engineering , chromatography , astronomy , aerospace engineering , biology
The particulate emission during nanosecond ablation of gold targets was investigated at various fluences (10-100 Jcm(-2)) and vacuum levels (0.05-750 Torr). Atomic emission spectra were acquired during the ablation process and post-mortem characterization of particle spatial distribution was performed using scanning electron microscopy. The discussion of the results in the context of existing theoretical models permitted the identification of four distinct mass removal mechanisms. While the presence, shape and intensity of atomic emission lines is a telltale of the nanoparticle formation process, the fluctuations of the emission signal over a number of laser shots was linked to the production of microscopic debris.