Open AccessTime-resolved dual-comb measurement of number density and temperature in a laser-induced plasma
Author(s) -
Yu Zhang,
C. Lecaplain,
Reagan R. D. Weeks,
Jeremy Yeak,
S. S. Harilal,
Mark C. Phillips,
R. Jason Jones
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
optics letters/optics index
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.524
H-Index - 272
eISSN - 1071-2763
pISSN - 0146-9592
DOI - 10.1364/ol.44.003458
Subject(s) - plasma , materials science , laser , laser ablation , spectroscopy , excited state , plasma diagnostics , temporal resolution , optics , absorption spectroscopy , excitation temperature , absorption (acoustics) , time resolved spectroscopy , atomic physics , excitation , spectral line , spectral resolution , ablation , emission spectrum , fluorescence , physics , engineering , quantum mechanics , astronomy , composite material , aerospace engineering
We utilize time-resolved dual-comb spectroscopy to measure the temporal evolution of the population number densities and absorption excitation temperature of Fe in a laser-induced plasma. The spectra of three excited-state transitions of Fe around 533 nm are simultaneously measured at different time delays following laser ablation of a stainless steel sample. This Letter probes late-time behaviors of laser-induced ablation plumes during plasma cooling. The high spectral resolution and broad spectral coverage of the dual-comb technique, combined with the time-resolved measurement capability shown here, will aid in the characterization of laser induced plasmas, including species identification and molecule and particle formation that can occur at later times in the plasma evolution.