Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-lnqnp Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-24T01:32:48.488Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Evaluation of electron temperature and electron density of laser-ablated Zr plasma by Langmuir probe characterization and its correlation with surface modifications

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 March 2020

Zulaikha Irfan ,
Shazia Bashir Open the ORCID record for Shazia Bashir [Opens in a new window] ,
Shariqa Hassan Butt ,
Asma Hayat ,
Rana Ayub ,
Khaliq Mahmood ,
Mahreen Akram  and
Amna Batool
Zulaikha Irfan
Affiliation:
Centre for Advanced Studies in Physics, Government College University, Lahore54000, Pakistan
Shazia Bashir*
Affiliation:
Centre for Advanced Studies in Physics, Government College University, Lahore54000, Pakistan
Shariqa Hassan Butt
Affiliation:
Centre for Advanced Studies in Physics, Government College University, Lahore54000, Pakistan
Asma Hayat
Affiliation:
Centre for Advanced Studies in Physics, Government College University, Lahore54000, Pakistan
Rana Ayub
Affiliation:
Centre for Advanced Studies in Physics, Government College University, Lahore54000, Pakistan
Khaliq Mahmood
Affiliation:
Centre for Advanced Studies in Physics, Government College University, Lahore54000, Pakistan
Mahreen Akram
Affiliation:
Centre for Advanced Studies in Physics, Government College University, Lahore54000, Pakistan
Amna Batool
Affiliation:
Centre for Advanced Studies in Physics, Government College University, Lahore54000, Pakistan
*
Author for correspondence: S. Bashir, Centre for Advanced Studies in Physics, Government College University, Lahore54000, Pakistan. E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The plasma parameters of laser-ablated Zirconium (Zr) using a Langmuir probe technique have been investigated by employing a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser (532 nm, 6 ns) at various irradiances ranging from 8.6 to 15.5 GW/cm2. All the measurements have been performed under an ultra-high vacuum condition while keeping the probe at a fixed distance of 4 mm from the target. By varying the biasing voltages from 1 to 75 V, the corresponding values of electric currents are measured by the probe on the oscilloscope. Laser-induced Zr plasma parameters such as electron temperature, electron number density, plasma potential, Debye length, and thermal velocity have been evaluated from I–V characteristic curves of Langmuir probe data. It is found that both the electron temperature and thermal velocity of Zr plasma reveal an increasing trend from 18 to 41 eV and 2.8 × 108 to 4.3 × 108 cm/s, respectively, with increasing laser irradiance which is attributed to more energy deposition and enhanced ablation rate. However, the electron number density of Zr plasma exhibits a non-significant increase from 6.5 × 1014 to 6.7 × 1014 cm−3 with increasing irradiance from 8.6 to 10.9 GW/cm2. A further increase in irradiance from 12 to 15.5 GW/cm2 causes a reduction in the number density of Zr plasma from 6.1 × 1014 to 5.6 × 1014 cm−3 which is attributed to the formation of thick sheath, ambipolar electric field, and laser-supported detonation waves (Shock front). Scanning electron microscope analysis has been performed to reveal the surface morphology of irradiated Zr. It reveals the formation of cracks, ridges, cones, and grains. It was observed at high irradiances the ridges are vanished, whereas cones and cracks are dominant features. By controlling plasma parameters, surface structuring of materials can be controlled, which has a vast range of applications in the industry and medicine.

Keywords

Electron number densityelectron temperatureLangmuir probelaser-produced plasmaplasma parameters
Type
Research Article
Information
Laser and Particle Beams , Volume 38 , Issue 2 , June 2020 , pp. 84 - 93
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 2020. Published by Cambridge University Press

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Ang, L, Lau, Y, Gilgenbach, R, Spindler, H, Lash, J and Kovaleski, S (1998) Surface instability of multipulse laser ablation on a metallic target. Journal of Applied Physics 83, 4466–4471.10.1063/1.367208CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Baraldi, G, Perea, A and Afonso, CN (2011) Dynamics of ions produced by laser ablation of several metals at 193 nm. Journal of Applied Physics 109, 043302.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Barmina, EV, Barberoglu, M, Zorba, V, Simakin, AV, Stratakis, E, Fotakis, K and Shafeev, GA (2009) Surface nanotexturing of tantalum by laser ablation in water. Quantum Electronics 39, 89–93.10.1070/QE2009v039n01ABEH013877CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bashir, S, Farid, N, Mahmood, K and Rafique, MS (2012) Influence of ambient gas and its pressure on the laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy and the surface morphology of laser-ablated Cd. Applied Physics A 107, 203–212.10.1007/s00339-011-6730-4CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bhatti, KA, Khaleeq-ur-Rahman, M, Rafique, MS, Chaudhary, KT and Latif, A (2010) Electrons emission from laser induced metallic plasmas. Vacuum 84, 980–985.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Borghesi, M, Fuchs, J, Bulanov, SV, MacKinnon, AJ, Patel, PK and Roth, M (2006) Fast ion generation by high-intensity laser irradiation of solid targets and applications. Fusion Science and Technology 49, 412–439.10.13182/FST06-A1159CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chen, J, Lunney, JG, Lippert, T, Ojeda-G-P, A, Stender, D, Schneider, CW and Wokaun, A (2014) Langmuir probe measurements and mass spectrometry of plasma plumes generated by laser ablation of La0.4Ca0.6MnO3. Journal of Applied Physics 116, 073303.Google Scholar
Das, SK, Khan, MMR, Parandhaman, T, Laffir, F, Guha, AK, Sekaran, G and Mandal, AB (2013) Nano-silica fabricated with silver nanoparticles: antifouling adsorbent for efficient dye removal, effective water disinfection and biofouling control. Nanoscale 5, 5549–5560.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Dogar, AH, Ilyas, B, Ullah, S, Nadeem, A and Qayyum, A (2011) Langmuir probe measurements of Nd-YAG laser-produced copper plasmas. IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science 39, 897–900.10.1109/TPS.2010.2100049CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Doggett, B and Lunney, JG (2009) Langmuir probe characterization of laser ablation plasmas. Journal of Applied Physics 105, 033306.10.1063/1.3056131CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Donnelly, T, Lunney, JG, Amoruso, S, Bruzzese, R, Wang, X and Ni, X (2010) Dynamics of the plumes produced by ultrafast laser ablation of metals. Journal of Applied Physics 108, 043309.10.1063/1.3475149CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hafeez, S, Shaikh, NM and Baig, MA (2008 a) Spectroscopic studies of Ca plasma generated by the fundamental, second, and third harmonics of a Nd:YAG laser. Laser and Particle Beams 26, 41–50.10.1017/S0263034608000062CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hafeez, S, Shaikh, NM, Rashid, B and Baig, MA (2008 b) Plasma properties of laser-ablated strontium target. Journal of Applied Physics 103, 083117.10.1063/1.2907953CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hafez, MA, Khedr, MA, Elaksher, FF and Gamal, YE (2003) Characteristics of Cu plasma produced by a laser interaction with a solid target. Plasma Sources Science and Technology 12, 185–198.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Harilal, SS, Bindhu, CV, Nampoori, VPN and Vallabhan, CPG (1998) Temporal and spatial behavior of electron density and temperature in a laser-produced plasma from YBa2Cu3O7. Applied Spectroscopy 52, 449–455.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hendron, JM, Mahony, CMO, Morrow, T and Graham, WG (1997) Langmuir probe measurements of plasma parameters in the late stages of a laser ablated plume. Journal of Applied Physics 81, 2131–2134.10.1063/1.364265CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hopkins, M and Graham, W (1986) Langmuir probe technique for plasma parameter measurement in a medium density discharge. Review of Scientific Instruments 57, 2210–2217.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kalsoom, U-i, Bashir, S and Ali, N (2013) SEM, AFM, EDX and XRD analysis of laser ablated Ti in nonreactive and reactive ambient environments. Surface and Coatings Technology 235, 297–302.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kawakami, Y and Ozawa, E (2003) Tungsten microcone growth by laser irradiation. Applied Surface Science 218, 176–188.10.1016/S0169-4332(03)00615-9CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Khalid, A, Bashir, S, Jalil, SA, Akram, M, Hayat, A and Dawood, A (2016) Spectroscopic and morphological studies of laser ablated silver. Optik 127, 5128–5134.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kumari, S and Khare, A (2014) Langmuir probe studies of laser ablated ruby plasma and correlation with pulsed laser deposited ruby thin film properties. Laser and Particle Beams 32, 359–367.10.1017/S0263034614000226CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kurella, A and Dahotre, N (2005) Review paper: Surface modification for bioimplants: The role of laser surface engineering. Journal of Biomaterials Applications 20, 5–50.10.1177/0885328205052974CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lacroix, D, Jeandel, G and Boudot, C (1997) Spectroscopic characterization of laser-induced plasma created during welding with a pulsed Nd:YAG laser. Journal of Applied Physics 81, 6599–6606.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lai, C, Breun, RA, Sandstrom, PW, Wendt, AE, Hershkowitz, N and Woods, RC (1993) Langmuir probe measurements of electron temperature and density scaling in multidipole radio frequency plasmas. Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology A 11, 1199–1205.10.1116/1.578493CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lippert, T, Stebani, J, Ihlemann, J, Nuyken, O and Wokaun, A (1993) Excimer laser ablation of novel triazene polymers: influence of structural parameters on the ablation characteristics. The Journal of Physical Chemistry 97, 12296–12301.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mahmood, K, Farid, N, Ghauri, IM, Afzal, N, Idrees, Y and Mubarik, FE (2010) Effects of laser irradiation on the mechanical response of polycrystalline titanium. Physica Scripta 82, 045606.10.1088/0031-8949/82/04/045606CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Merlino, RL (2007) Understanding Langmuir probe current-voltage characteristics. American Journal of Physics 75, 1078–1085.10.1119/1.2772282CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nica, P, Gurlui, S, Osiac, M, Agop, M, Ziskind, M and Focsa, C (2017) Investigation of femtosecond laser-produced plasma from various metallic targets using the Langmuir probe characteristic. Physics of Plasmas 24, 103119.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nica, PS, Gurluib, M and Agopa, C (2019) Oscillatory regimes of Langmuir probe current in femtosecond laser-produced plasmas: Experimental and theoretical investigations. Applied Surface Science 481, 125–132.10.1016/j.apsusc.2019.03.098CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Phipps, C (2007) Laser Ablation and its Applications, Vol. 129. Springer, doi: 10.1007/978-0-387-30453-3.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pilling, LS, Bydder, EL and Carnegie, DA (2003) A computerized Langmuir probe system. Review of Scientific Instruments 74, 3341–3346.10.1063/1.1581362CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Radziemski, LJ and Cremers, DA (1989) Laser-Induced Plasmas and Applications, Vol. 21. CRC Press. ISBN: 0824780787, 9780824780784.Google Scholar
Rai, V (2012) Theoretical aspect of enhancement and saturation in emission from laser produced plasma. Laser and Particle Beams 30, 621–631.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Russo, RE, Mao, XL, Liu, C and Gonzalez, J (2004) Laser assisted plasma spectrochemistry: laser ablation. Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry 19, 1084–1089.10.1039/b403368jCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Shazia, B, Shazaib, K, Mahreen, A, Nisar, A, Umm-i, K, Shahbaz, A and Daniel, Y (2015) Pulsed laser ablation of Ni in vacuum and N2 atmosphere at various fluences. Quantum Electronics 45, 640–647.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Shen, M, Crouch, C, Carey, J, Younkin, R, Mazur, E, Sheehy, M and Friend, C (2003) Formation of regular arrays of silicon microspikes by femtosecond laser irradiation through a mask. Applied Physics Letters 82, 1715–1717.10.1063/1.1561162CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Shrestha, A, Shrestha, R, Baniya, H, Tyata, R, Subedi, D and Wong, C (2014) Influence of discharge voltage and pressure on the plasma parameters in a low pressure DC glow discharge. International Journal of Recent Research and Review VII, 9–15. ISSN 2277-8322.Google Scholar
Singh, RK and Narayan, J (1990) Pulsed-laser evaporation technique for deposition of thin films: physics and theoretical model. Physical Review B 41, 8843.10.1103/PhysRevB.41.8843CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Toftmann, B, Schou, J, Hansen, TN and Lunney, JG (2000) Angular distribution of electron temperature and density in a laser-ablation plume. Physical Review Letters 84, 3998–4001.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Toftmann, B, Schou, J and Lunney, JG (2003) Dynamics of the plume produced by nanosecond ultraviolet laser ablation of metals. Physical Review B 67, 104101.10.1103/PhysRevB.67.104101CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Torrisi, L and Gammino, S (2006) Method for the calculation of electrical field in laser-generated plasma for ion stream production. Review of Scientific Instruments 77, 03B707.10.1063/1.2170033CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Yu, JJ and Lu, YF (1999) Laser-induced ripple structures on Ni–P substrates. Applied Surface Science 148, 248–252.CrossRefGoogle Scholar