Femtosecond field ion emission by surface optical rectification

Area of Science:

• Physics
• Materials Science
• Surface Science

Background:

• Ultrafast laser-matter interactions are crucial for advanced material processing and diagnostics.
• Field-ion emission and laser ablation are complex phenomena involving electron dynamics at metal surfaces.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a quantitative model for ultrafast laser-assisted field-ion emission from metal tips.
• To investigate the applicability of the proposed model to ultrafast laser ablation phenomena.

Main Methods:

• Theoretical modeling based on the surface optical rectification effect.
• Experimental validation using ultrafast laser-assisted field-ion emission from tungsten tips in a tomographic atom probe.

Main Results:

• The surface optical rectification model quantitatively explains observed features of ultrafast laser-assisted field-ion emission without adjustable parameters.
• The model also offers a plausible explanation for low-fluence ultrafast laser ablation in metals, surfaces, and nanoparticles.

Conclusions:

• The surface optical rectification effect is a key mechanism governing ultrafast laser-induced electron emission and ablation in metals.
• The developed model provides a unified, parameter-free framework for understanding these phenomena.