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Excimer laser produced plasmas in copper wire targets and water dropletsElastically scattered incident radiation (ESIR) from a copper wire target illuminated by a KrF laser pulse at lambda = 248 nm shows a dinstinct two-peak structure which is dependent on the incident energy. The time required to reach the critical electron density (n(sub c) approximately = 1.8 x 10(exp 22) electrons/cu cm) is estimated at 11 ns based on experimental results. Detailed ESIR characteristics for water have been reported previously by the authors. Initiation of the broadband emission for copper plasma begins at 6.5 +/- 1.45 ns after the arrival of the laser pulse. However, the broadband emission occurs at 11 +/- 0.36 ns for water. For a diatomic substance such as water, the electron energy rapidly dissipates due to dissociation of water molecules, which is absent in a monatomic species such as copper. When the energy falls below the excitation energy of the lowest electron state for water, it becomes a subexcitation electron. Lifetimes of the subexcited electrons to the vibrational states are estimated to be of the order of 10(exp -9) s. In addition, the ionization potential of copper (440-530 nm) is approximately 6 eV, which is about two times smaller than the 13 eV ionization potential reported for water. The higher ionization potential contributes to the longer observed delay time for plasma formation in water. After initiation, a longer time is required for copper plasma to reach its peak value. This time delay in reaching the maximum intensity is attributed to the energy loss during the interband transition in copper.
Document ID
19950042794
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Song, Kyo-Dong
(NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Alexander, D. R.
(Univ. of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE United States)
Date Acquired
August 16, 2013
Publication Date
September 15, 1994
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Applied Physics
Volume: 76
Issue: 6
ISSN: 0021-8979
Subject Category
Lasers And Masers
Accession Number
95A74393
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: DAAL03-87-K-0138
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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