Laser plasma interaction in nanoparticle copper targets

S. Chaurasia1, D. S. Munda1, Nitish Kumar2 , N. Kulkarni*, P. Ayyub3, N. K. Gupta, L. J. Dhareshwar1 1. Laser & Neutron Physics Section, Physics Group, Bhabha Atomic
research Centre, Mumbai, 2. Cochin University of Science and Technology, Cochin, Kerala. 3. Department of condensed matter physics, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai.

e-mail shibu@apsara.barc.gov.in

Theme of our work on Laser plasma Interaction has been to study several target designs involving composite as well as mixtures of materials of varying density and target structuring over these past few years ( Au-Cu alloy, High Z doped polymers, Cu,Au coated with nanop- crystalline particle layers etc.) Effect of various laser parameters such as laser wavelength, intensity, pulse duration, different spatial and temporal shapes etc on laser-target coupling has also been studied extensively to achieve maximum x ray conversion efficiency and ion emission. A mixed metallic alloy of Au-Cu was observed to yield higher x ray conversion efficiency* and also the ion dynamics were studied**.
* X ray and ion measurements in laser produced plasma from gold-copper alloy targets S. Chaurasia, D. S. Munda, C. G. Murali, N. K. Gupta and L. J. Dhareshwar, Accepted for publication-J. Appl.Phy.

** Ion dynamics in laser produced plasmas from mixed high Z targets, S.Chaurasia*, L. J. Dhareshwar and N.K. Gupta, accepted for publication- Radiation Effects and defects in solids.

Introduction :
Interaction of intense lasers with nano-particles and clusters has become a subject of intensive study in the recent times. Significant enhancement in soft and hard X-ray emission has been reported by several authors in targets with structured surfaces. Significant enhancement in laser light coupling in plasmas created from copper nano-particle targets using 1002000 fsec laser pulses at 806nm at intensity 1015 to 1016 W/cm2 has been reported. Extremely energetic ( MeV) and highly stripped ions have been produced by Intense laser interaction in noble gas clusters. Free standing Metal clusters( Ag,Pt) have been also used to generate highly charged and energetic ions. Nano particles embedded within host matrix (glass)

Motivation for our work

What happens at long laser pulse durations- Sub nanosecond ( 300-800psec), memory of initial laser pulse absorption by nano-particles retained? What is the difference between free-standing metal clusters and layer of nano particles on bulk material? Dependence of Laser absorption in nano-particle layers on laser parameters ( Energy, pulse duration, polarization, wavelength etc).

In our experiments reported here, we have comparedsolid polished copper targets having a 1m and 3m thick layer of copper nano-crystalline particles of about 15nm size with plain polished copper targets. 1. Ion emission from plasmas- Ion flux, Ion energy, Ion velocity etc. 2. X-ray emission in various spectrum range namely soft x-ray
(B10 filter > 0.7 keV), harder x-ray (Ti Filter 3.2 to 4.96 keV ) and hard x-ray (Ni filter 4.6 to 8.3 keV)

3. Effect of Laser field polarization on x-ray and ion emission.

Experiments
12 J / 500 ps Nd:glass laser operated at
Energy-2Joules. Pulse duration- 300-500 psec. Intensity-1013 -1014W/cm2

TargetsPolished copper solid target, 1 m, 3m thick coating of copper nano-particles of 15nm size on top of solid target.

Diagnostics1. Langmuir probe array 2. Faraday cup ion collectors 3. X-ray semiconductor detector cover with 12 m titanium (3.2 to 4.96 keV) and 5 m nickel filter ( 4.6 to 8.32 keV ). 4. X-ray vacuum photodiode cover with B10 filter ( > 0.7 keV)

Picosecond laser laboratory

30GWatt/500 psec Nd:glass laser system
Amp 1 Amp 2

Spatial Filter

Oscillator 150 mJ/ 300- 800 ps M

Beam exp 2.4 X Beam exp 1.3 X Amp 5 Amp 4

P
Amp3

Lens

Faraday Isolator

M M

12Joule/500ps 1014 W/cm2

45 mm
VERSA Disk laser

Laser foot print at the final stage VISAR

Laser system

(b)
OSC Amp 2 Amp 1 Amp 3 Amp 4 Amp 5

Experimental chamber outside view and inside view:

X-ray diagnostics 3 channel X-ray semiconductor detector (quantrad make)

2 channel X-ray semiconductor detector (UDT sensor) X-ray pinhole camera. 7-channel x-ray vacuum biplanar photodoide X-ray transmission grating spectrograph X-ray crystal spectrograph X-ray CCD camera

Ion diagnosticsLangmuir probes Ion collectors Electrostatic IEA

EOS studies
Optical streak camera shock velocity VISAR set-up Particle velocity

Target preparation
Sputter-deposition at relatively high pressures (~20-200mTorr) and low substrate temperatures (~100-300K) is known to produce nanocrystalline films [1]. The average particle size can be controlled by proper choice of sputtering voltage, gas pressure and substrate temperature. In the present case, the nanocrystalline copper sample was prepared by dc magnetron sputtering (at 325V)from a 50 mm dia copper target at 100 mtorr pressure on a bulk copper substrate held at 300 K. The average particle size (as obtained from a masurement of the x-ray diffraction line broadening) was about 15-25 nm.

[1]P. Ayyub, R. Chandra, P. Taneja, A. K. Sharma, and R. Pinto, Appl. Phys. A 73, 67 (2001)

Array of Langmuir Probe

In our experiment we have used 3 Langmuir probe at different angle (130, 30o and 45o) biased negatively with -30V. The Langmuir probes are cylindrical type with dia 0.5mm and of length 4mm placed inside the vacuum chamber at a distance of 11cm from target.
V1 -40V TO +40V

R1 10K

LANGMUIR PROBE
C1 0.01uF R2 50

TO OSC.

Schematic of Faraday cup (Ion collector)

(a)
0.7 0.6

(b)
Cu plane target E=1876.5mJ

amplitude(V)

(a) Schematic of Ion collector, (b) Photograph of ion collector, (c) Recorded signal of copper plasma

0.5 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.0 -0.1 -0.000001 0.000000 0.000001 0.000002 0.000003

Time of flight( s)

(c)

Three Channel X-ray Detection Head For Diagnostics Of Plasma

A compact, three channel noise resistant detection head based on semiconductor detectors (PIN diode, 100PIN250, by Quantrad Corporation, USA) has been built for the diagnostics of the x-ray emission from plasma as shown in fig. a. Multi systems detection systems give the possibility of evaluating the level of x-ray emission at different ranges of wavelength. The K-edge filter foils (Ni 5 m, Ti - 12 m) are mounted on the filter holder which is held in position 5 mm from the diode in front at the PIN diode by the foil holder supporter.

Ti

20ns/div
Ni

Ni

Ti

X-ray vacuum photodiode array

V 1

7 channel, 150 ps rise time, cover with B10 filter, negatively biased at 1kV

Anode (Mesh Grid) Cathode

D D1N400 1 7 R 1 1 M

-1 to 2KV

0
C 1 2n F

FILTER

TO OSC.
R 25 0

X-ray measurement
10

1.0 0.9 0.8

12micronTi 5micronNi
X-ray diode signal(V)

9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2

Transmission

0.7 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.0 0

Ti - 3.2 KeV- 4.906 KeV Ni - 4.4 KeV- 8.3 KeV

Polished Cu Ti Filter

structered Cu

3.2KeV 4.4 KeV 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000

1 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200

Ni Filter
1400

X-ray Energy (eV)

Laser energy (mJ)

Schematic of the polarization of laser light on normal incident target

Pe Pa

Las

m bea er
Ion Detector

Experimental Results with 1m thick layer Ion amplitude variation with Pe polarized laser energy on copper and nano-copper targets

3000 2800 2600 2400

2200 2000 1800 1600 1400 1200 1000 800 600 400 200 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000 2200

Langmuir probe signal (mV)

Cunano13 Cunano30 Cunano 45 Cu13 Cu30 Cu 45

Pe -pol, 500 psec

2200 2000 1800 1600 1400 1200 1000 800 600 400 200 0 200

Langmuir probe signal (mV)

coppernano 13 coppernano 30 coppernano 45 copper 13 copper 30 copper 45

320 psec, Pe pol

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

Laser Energy (mJ)

Laser Energy (mJ)

Ion amplitude variation with laser energy for a Pa polarized laser incident on copper and nano-copper targets

1600

Langmuir probe Signal Amplitude(mV)

1400 1200 1000 800 600 400 200 0 200

coppernano 13 coppernano 30 coppernano 45 copper 13 copper 30 copper 45

Pa-Pol, 500 psec

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

Laser Energy (mJ)

Effect of Pe and Pa polarized laser light on polished copper and nanocopper targets500 psec Pe and Pa pol
1600

500 psec, Peand Pa- Pol CunanoP13 CunanoP30 Cunano P45 CunanoS13 CunanoS30 Cunano S45 Nano copper

1600

Langmuir probe signal amplitude (mV)

1400 1200 1000 800 600 400 200 0 200 400

Langmuir probe signal amplitude (mV)

copper S 13 copper S 30 copper S 45 copper P 13 copper P 30 copper P 45

1400 1200 1000 800 600 400 200 0

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

Laser Energy (mJ)

Laser Energy (mJ)

Ion velocity for copper and nano-copper target at three angle as a function of laser energy
35

nano10degre Cu10

Ion velocity at 13 to target normal

30

nano30degre Cu30

30

25

Ion velocity (x10 cm/sec)

Ion velocity (x10 cm/sec)

25

20

20

15

15

10

10 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400

Laser Energy (mJ)

0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400

Laser Energy (mJ)

22 20 18

Cu -nano 45 Cu 45

Ion velocity (x10 cm/sec)

16 14 12 10 8 6 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400

Laser Energy (mJ)

Observations: 1. It is observed that the behaviour of plasma generated from copper nano-particle coated target is different from that of plain copper target. 2. The ion flux in case of nano-particle coated copper targets is higher for Pa polarization of the laser pulse as compared to Pe polarization. 3. Nano-particle coated targets show higher ion flux compared to plain copper. The same is observed for ion velocity also. 4. No difference in ion flux ablated between Pa and Pe polarized light for a polished copper target. 5. Laser absorption is higher for a nano-coated surface as compared to a plane polished surface.( because ion velocity is found higher for nano)

Experiments with 3 micron thick layer of copper nano particle on copper substrate
In these experiments a copper nano particle layer of 3 micron is coated on copper base. For the ion parameter detection an array of Langmuir probes and ion collector used. For the x-ray detection we have used semiconductor pIn diode cover with titanium filter and indigenously developed x-ray vacuum photodiodes cover with B10 filter ( tranmission > 0.7 keV). This B-10 foil had a Polycarbonate base film of thickness 2 m and had a density of 0.24 mg/cm2. 80% of this density was due to the thickness of the base film and 20% due to the 0.6m thick Aluminum coating. From the manufacturers data, the equivalent thickness of one B-10 foil was calculated as 0.05 mg/cm2, 0.15mg/cm2 and 0.0376 mg/cm2 of aluminium, carbon and oxygen respectively.

Comparison of copper and nano-copper targets for Pa (p) polarized light

1000 900
800

CuP5 NanoP5

1000 900

CuP10 NanoP10

800
700

700

Ion amplitude (a.u.)

Ion amplitude (a.u.)

600 500 400 300 200

600 500 400 300 200

100

100
0

0 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1800

2000

Laser energy (mJ)

Laser energy (mJ)

1000 900 800

CuP25 NanoP25

400 350 300

fcpeaknano fcpeakCu

700

Ion amplitude (a.u.)

250

fc voltage

600 500 400 300 200

200 150 100 50

100 0 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000

0 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000

Laser energy (mJ)

Energy

Comparison of copper and nano-copper for Pe (s)polarized light

1000 900 800
800

CuS nanoS

1000 900

CuS nanoS

Ion amplitude at 5 (a.u.)

Ion amplitude at 10 (a.u.)

700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000

700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000

Laser energy (mJ)

Laser energy (mJ)

1000 900 800

CuS nanoS

400

CuS nanoS Faraday cup

Ion amplitude at 25 (a.u.)

700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000

300

Ion amplitude (a.u.)

Laser energy (mJ)

200

100

0 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000

Laser energy (mJ)

Comparison of nano copper target with Pe (S) and Pa (P) Laser beam
1000 900 800 700

1000

NanoS10 NanoP10

nanoS5 NanoP5

900 800 700

Ion amplitude (a.u.)

600 500 400 300 200 100 0 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000

Ion amplitude (a.u.)

600 500 400 300 200 100 0 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000

Laser energy (mJ)

Laser energy (mJ)

1000
400

nanoS nanop

900 800 700

nanoS25 NanoP25
Faraday Cup signal (mV)

350

Ion amplitude (a.u.)

300

600 500 400 300 200 100 0 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000

250

200

150

100

50 400 500 600 700 800 900 100011001200130014001500160017001800

Laser energy (mJ)

Laser Energy (mJ)

Comparison of copper target with Pe (S) and Pa (P) Laser beam

CufcP CuS
350

300

250

Y Axis Title

200

150

100

50 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000

X Axis Title

Faraday cup record of copper and nano copper coated plasma

CU nano target
0.7 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.0 0.0 1.0x10
-6

E=1737mJ
0.7 0.6 0.5

Cu plane target E=1876.5mJ

Amplitude(V)

amplitude(V)
2.0x10
-6

0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.0

3.0x10

-6

-0.1 -0.000001 0.000000 0.000001 0.000002 0.000003

Time of flight(sec)

Time of flight( s)

Fast ion velocity Vs Laser energy

1.0x10
8

Kinetic energy Vs Laser energy for fast ions

500 450 400

K.E.nano K.E.Cu

average ion Energy (keV)

fast ion velocity (cm / sec)

350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0

nanocopper Copper
5.0x10
7

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1800

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1800

Laser Energy (mJ)

Laser Energy (mJ)

X-ray measurement from copper and nano-copper plasma using xray semiconductor diodes covered with Ti filter and x-ray vacuum photodiode covered with B10 filter

xraynano xrayCu
8.5 8.0 7.5 6.5 6.0 5.5 5.0 4.5 4.0 3.5 3.0 2.5 2.0 1.5 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000

Cuch2 nanoch2
6

biplanar Ch2

x raysignal with Ti (V)

x ray ch2 voltage (V)

7.0

0 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000 2200 2400

energ y (mJ)

energy (mJ)

Recent publications
1. Enhancement of x-ray emission and ion velocity in laser plasmas from gold copper mixed target-S.Chaurasia*, D.S.Munda, C.G.Murali, N.K.Gupta and L.J.Dhareshwar, Accepted for publication in J. Appl. Phys. Ion dynamics in laser produced plasmas from mixed high Z targets, S.Chaurasia*, L.J.Dhareshwar and N.K.Gupta, accepted for publication in Radiation Effects and Defects in Solids. Generation and measurements on a variable duration, short pulse, cavity dumped Nd:YAG laser- S. Chaurasia, C.G.Murali,L.J.Dhareshwar, R.Vijayan, A.C.Shikalgar, B.S.Narayan, In press Laser and Optics Technology. Production of high-current heavy ion jets at the short-wavelength subnanosecond laser-solid interaction- J. Badziak, A. Kasperczuk, P. Parys, T Pisarczyk, M.Rosiski,L.Ry,J.Woowski, S. Jaboski, R. Suchaska, E. Krousky, L. Lska, K. Masek, M. Pfeifer, J. Ullschmied, L. J. Dareshwar,I. Foldes ,L. Torrisi,P. Pisarczyk, APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS 91, 081502 2007 Induced birefringence in optically isotropic glass by a short pulsed Nd:YAG laserParamita Deb, K.C.Gupta, C.G.Murali, L.J. Dhareshwar, B.K. Godwal, Journal of Optics A-pure and Applied Optics,vol8, 903, 2006.

2.

3.

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5.

Cont
6. 7. Amol R. Holkundkar, N. K. Gupta and L. J. Dhareshwar, Hydrodynamic Investigations of Intense sub-picosecond laser mater interaction, IEEE transactions on plasma science, 34, 2572-2578, (2006). X-ray and ion emission characteristics of plasmas ablated from solid materials using a high power Nd:glass laser-L.J.Dhareshwar,S.Chaurasia, C.G.Murali,N.K.Gupta, B.K.Godwal,Journal of Material Science Vol41(2006), 1623-1630. Measurement of laser driven shock wave transit time through thin aluminium targets by optical shadowgraphy- L.J.Dhareshwar,N.Gopi,C.G.Murali,N. K.Gupta, B.K.Godwal, Shock Waves,Vol 14(4),231-237(2005).

8.

L. J. Dhareshwar