Open AccessPlasma temperature clamping in filamentation laser induced breakdown spectroscopy
Author(s) -
S. S. Harilal,
Jeremy Yeak,
Mark C. Phillips
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.23.027113
Subject(s) - filamentation , laser induced breakdown spectroscopy , materials science , protein filament , plasma , spectroscopy , laser , plasma channel , optics , laser ablation , atomic physics , clamping , physics , mechanical engineering , quantum mechanics , composite material , engineering
Ultrafast laser filament induced breakdown spectroscopy is a very promising method for remote material detection. We present characteristics of plasmas generated in a metal target by laser filaments in air. Our measurements show that the temperature of the ablation plasma is clamped along the filament channel due to intensity clamping in a filament. Nevertheless, significant changes in radiation intensity are noticeable, and this is essentially due to variation in the number density of emitting atoms. The present results also explain the near absence of ion emission but strong atomic neutral emission from plumes produced during fs LIBS in air.