Thermal-to-plasma transitions and energy thresholds in laser ablated metals monitored by atomic emission/mass spectrometry coincidence analysis

A simultaneous laser-induced plasma spectrometry/laser ionization mass spectrometry experiment has been used to follow the ion and photon intensity in laser plasmas generated over pure metallic targets as a function of fluence. The excitation conditions have been chosen to cover the range from low fluence levels, where surface desorption and thermoemission are the common processes, to the high fluence regime, characterized by plasma formation. The fluence thresholds for ion formation and plasma formation have been calculated. The dependence of both processes with melting temperature has been demonstrated.