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Laser-induced plasmas in metal vapors

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2009

J. T. Bahns ,
M. Koch  and
W. C. Stwalley
J. T. Bahns
Affiliation:
Center for Laser Science and Engineering and Departments of Chemistry and Physics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242-1294, USA
M. Koch
Affiliation:
Center for Laser Science and Engineering and Departments of Chemistry and Physics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242-1294, USA
W. C. Stwalley
Affiliation:
Center for Laser Science and Engineering and Departments of Chemistry and Physics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242-1294, USA
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Abstract

Strong ionization in metal vapors is known to be very readily produced by a variety of pulsed and CW lasers. Particularly well known is ‘resonance’ ionization by pulsed or CW dye lasers operated at the atomic resonance lines (e.g. Na 3s → 3p). We also have experimental results for two other forms of ionization: ‘quasiresonant’ ionization using a CW dye laser (e.g. at the Na 3p → 4d transitions), and ‘two-photon resonance’ ionization using a pulsed dye laser (e.g. at the Na 3s → 4d two-photon resonances). Both new forms are visually characterized by bright ‘white sparks’ and correspond to reasonably high electron densities of ∼1014−1015 cm3 and low electron temperatures of ∼0·1−0·2 eV. The ‘quasiresonant’ ionization is remarkable in that it occurs even with a very low power 1 mW focused CW laser in 10 torr of Na. A variety of interesting atomic and molecular spectroscopic features have been observed and analyzed.

Type
Research Article
Information
Laser and Particle Beams , Volume 7 , Issue 3 , August 1989 , pp. 545 - 550
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1989

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