Vacuum ultraviolet spectroscopy study of excimer-laser-generated plasmas

The dispersed emission in the vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) (1200–3000 Å) from the plasma generated by the interaction of a KrF excimer laser with an Al and a YBa2Cu3O7 target has been measured. Emission spectra were collected as a function of distance above the target surface and as a function of laser fluence. The qualitative features of the plasmas from the two different targets were similar. The character of the emission spectra changed from a pseudocontinuous emission at the target surface to discrete emission from singly, doubly ionized species as well as neutrals at distances greater than ∼1.5 mm. The spatial variation indicated two regions: a high-density sheath along the target where the core emission is close to blackbody; and beyond, a plasma with large opacity emitting a UV spectrum of intensity decreasing fast with distance. Estimates of the plasma temperature and density were between 2 and 4 eV and ∼1018/cm3, respectively.