Angular distribution of electron temperature and density in a laser-ablation plume

Area of Science:

• Plasma Physics
• Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS)
• Materials Science

Background:

• Laser ablation generates plasma plumes crucial for various applications.
• Understanding plume dynamics, including electron and ion behavior, is essential for process optimization.
• Limited data exists on the angular distribution of electron properties in these plumes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the angular distribution of electron temperature and density in a laser-ablation plume for the first time.
• To compare electron properties with ion energy and density characteristics.
• To provide foundational data for laser-based material processing and analysis.

Main Methods:

• Experimental study of laser-ablation plume dynamics.
• Measurement of electron temperature and density at various angles.
• Comparison with simultaneously measured ion energy and density.

Main Results:

• Electron temperature (0.1–0.5 eV) shows weak angular dependence at low laser intensity.
• Ion energy is approximately two orders of magnitude greater than electron temperature.
• Ion energy distribution is more peaked along the target normal compared to electron properties.
• Electron density measurements align with ion density measurements.

Conclusions:

• Electron temperature and density exhibit distinct angular distributions compared to ion energy in laser-ablation plumes.
• The findings highlight the complex interplay between electrons and ions in plume expansion.
• This research provides novel insights into laser-plasma interactions and plume physics.