Fast imaging of laser-blow-off plume:Lateral confinement in ambient environment

Abstract

The dynamics of plasma plume, formed by the laser-blow-off of multicomponent LiF-C thin film under various ambient pressures ranging from high vacuum to argon pressure of 3 Torr, has been studied using fast imaging technique. In vacuum, the plume has ellipsoidal shape. With the increase in the ambient pressure, sharp plume boundary is developed showing a focusing-like confinement in the lateral space behavior in the front end, which persists for long times. At higher ambient pressure (> 10−1 Torr ), structures are developed in the plasma plume due to hydrodynamic instability/turbulences.