Ablation yield and angular distribution of ablated particles from laser-irradiated metals: The most fundamental determining factor

▶ The angular distribution of LPP ions from target metals has no systematic correlation with the square-root of atomic mass of the target metals. ▶ The angular distribution of LPP ions exhibits systematic dependence on the room temperature Debye-Waller's thermal parameter B or the mean-square amplitude of atomic vibrations 〈u2〉. ▶ The ablation yield (atoms/shot) of target metals under identical irradiation conditions is also a function of the room temperature B-factor or 〈u2〉.