Positive and negative singly charged ion production of a laser induced plasma using a capillary graphite target

A new type of laser ion source is being developed aiming at the production of positive and negative singly charged ions using a capillary graphite target structure. The initial results of the laser plasma produced inside of the 10 mm diameter conduit indicated the formation of the secondary charged particle production inside the target. A high speed camera clearly recorded the plasma plume expansion inside the target. The time-of-flight spectrum of the laser produced plasma in vacuum showed that the signal of the positive ions formed two peaks as the laser power density exceeded 10 GW/cm(2). The addition of neutral gas to the system produced a signal corresponding to negative ions after the positive signal.