Published online by Cambridge University Press: 16 February 2011
Pulsed KrF (248 nm) excimer laser ablation of targets can provide a source of atomic particles with energies in the range of 40 – 850 eV with beam-like characteristics. Optical intensities above about 109 W/cm2 lead mainly to single and multiply charged ground state positive atomic ions plus electrons with a pronounced angular energy dependence, the highest energies peaked in the direction normal to the target. A wide mass range of metallic and non-metallic targets were studied to determine the effects of atomic weights and other physical properties on the distribution of ion energies. Analysis of the energetics indicates that ablation mechanisms are non-equilibrium in nature. We have explored the use of very energetic (200–400 eV) Y, Ba and Cu ions to form very thin YBa2Cu3O7-x superconducting films grown on flat gold surfaces. SQUID magnetometry is used to study the temperature and field dependence of magnetization in these materials.