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Updated: Jul 13, 2026

Automated Delivery of Microfabricated Targets for Intense Laser Irradiation Experiments
Published on: January 28, 2021
Improved signal stability from a laser vaporization source with a liquid metal target
Colleen M Neal1, Gary A Breaux, Baopeng Cao
1Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, 800 East Kirkwood Avenue, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, USA.
Abstract:
The translating and rotating rod or disk of a conventional laser vaporization cluster source is replaced by a liquid metal target. The self-regenerating liquid surface prevents cavities from being bored into the sample by laser ablation. The laser beam strikes a near pristine surface with each pulse, resulting in signals with much better short and long term stabilities. While this approach cannot be used for refractory metals such as tungsten and molybdenum, it is ideal for studies of bimetallic clusters, which can easily be prepared by laser vaporization of a liquid metal alloy.

