Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 January 1992
Laser vaporization processes in Si are analyzed in vacuum and in inert gas environment by space/time resolved optical spectrometry. The results show significant increases in the intensity of luminescence emitted from laser-vaporized plume in gas pressures up to 5 Torr in Ar and 20 Torr in Xe. The intensity then decreases with further increase in the pressure. The observed results are interpreted that collisions of inert gas atoms with a vaporized Si cluster enhances its fragmentation leading to ejection of electronically excited Si atoms and ions. The decomposition process of highly charged clusters are discussed in terms of electrostatic Coulomb effect.