Measurement of energy penetration depth of subpicosecond laser energy into solid density matter

• Published in: Applied physics letters 1991-07, Vol.59 (5), p.534-536
• Main Authors: ZIGLER, A, BURKHALTER, P. G, NAGEL, D. J, ROSEN, M. D, BOYER, K, GIBSON, G, LUK, T. S, MCPHERSON, A, RHODES, C. K
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 360206 - Ceramics, Cermets, & Refractories- Radiation Effects; 360605 - Materials- Radiation Effects; ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS; CHALCOGENIDES; Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; DENSITY; ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION; EMISSION SPECTRA; Exact sciences and technology; FLUORIDES; FLUORINE COMPOUNDS; HALIDES; HALOGEN COMPOUNDS; HEATING; LASER RADIATION; LAYERS; MAGNESIUM COMPOUNDS; MAGNESIUM FLUORIDES; MATERIALS SCIENCE; MINERALS; Optical properties and condensed-matter spectroscopy and other interactions of matter with particles and radiation; OXIDE MINERALS; OXIDES; OXYGEN COMPOUNDS; PHYSICAL PROPERTIES; PHYSICAL RADIATION EFFECTS; Physics; RADIATION EFFECTS; RADIATIONS; SILICA; SILICON COMPOUNDS; SILICON OXIDES; SPECTRA; ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
• ISSN: 0003-6951; 1077-3118
• DOI: 10.1063/1.105430

The energy penetration depth characteristic of the interaction of intense subpicosecond (∼600 fs) ultraviolet (248 nm) laser radiation with solid density material has been experimentally determined. This was accomplished by using a series of ultraviolet transmitting targets consisting of a fused silica (SiO2) substrate coated with an 80–600 nm layer of MgF2. The measurement of He-like and H-like Si and Mg lines, as a function of MgF2 thickness, enabled the determination of the energy penetration depth. It was found that this depth falls in the range of 250–300 nm for a laser intensity of ∼3×1016 W/cm2. Based on numerical simulations, it is estimated that solid density material to a depth of ∼250 nm is heated to an electron temperature of ∼500 eV.