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Spatial confinement effects employed by metallic blocker and Ar gas pressures on laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy and surface modifications of laser-irradiated Mg

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 April 2017

A. Hayat ,
S. Bashir ,
M. S. Rafique ,
R. Ahmed ,
M. Akram ,
K. Mahmood ,
A. Zaheer ,
T. Hussain  and
A. Dawood
A. Hayat*
Affiliation:
Centre for Advanced Studies in Physics, GC University, Lahore, Pakistan
S. Bashir
Affiliation:
Centre for Advanced Studies in Physics, GC University, Lahore, Pakistan
M. S. Rafique
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore, Pakistan
R. Ahmed
Affiliation:
Centre for Advanced Studies in Physics, GC University, Lahore, Pakistan
M. Akram
Affiliation:
Centre for Advanced Studies in Physics, GC University, Lahore, Pakistan
K. Mahmood
Affiliation:
Centre for Advanced Studies in Physics, GC University, Lahore, Pakistan
A. Zaheer
Affiliation:
Centre for Advanced Studies in Physics, GC University, Lahore, Pakistan
T. Hussain
Affiliation:
Centre for Advanced Studies in Physics, GC University, Lahore, Pakistan
A. Dawood
Affiliation:
Centre for Advanced Studies in Physics, GC University, Lahore, Pakistan
*
Address correspondence and reprint requests to: A. Hayat, Centre for Advanced Studies in Physics, GC University, Lahore, Pakistan. E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Spatial confinement effects on plasma parameters and surface morphology of laser-ablated Mg are studied by introducing a metallic blocker as well as argon (Ar) gas at different pressures. Nd: YAG laser at various fluences ranging from 7 to 28 J/cm2 was employed to generate Mg plasma. Confinement effects offered by metallic blocker are investigated by placing the blocker at different distances of 6, 8, and 10 mm from the target surface; whereas spatial confinement offered by environmental gas is explored under four different pressures of 5, 10, 20, and 50 Torr. Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy analysis revealed that both plasma parameters, that is, excitation temperature and electron number density initially are strongly dependent upon both pressures of environmental gases and distances of blockers. The maximum electron temperature of Mg plasma is achieved at Ar gas pressure of 20 Torr, whereas maximum electron number density is achieved at 50 Torr. It is also observed that spatial confinement offered by metallic blocker is responsible for the significant enhancement of both electron temperature and electron number density of Mg plasma. Maximum values of electron temperature and electron number density without blocker are 8335 K and 2.4 × 1016 cm−3, respectively, whereas these values are enhanced to 12,200 K and 4 × 1016 cm−3 in the presence of blocker. Physical mechanisms responsible for the enhancement of Mg plasma parameters are plasma compression, confinement and pronounced collisional excitations due to reflection of shock waves. Scanning electron microscope analysis was performed to explore the surface morphology of laser-ablated Mg. It reveals the formation of ripples and channels that become more distinct in the presence of blocker due to plasma confinement. The optimum combination of blocker distance, fluence and Ar pressure can identify the suitable conditions for defining the role of plasma parameters for surface structuring.

Keywords

Electron number densityElectron temperatureLaser-induced breakdown spectroscopySpatial confinementSpectral emissions
Type
Research Article
Information
Laser and Particle Beams , Volume 35 , Issue 2 , June 2017 , pp. 313 - 325
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2017 

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