LASER-INDUCED EMISSION OF NEUTRAL ATOMS AND MOLECULES FROM ELECTRON-IRRADIATED NANO3

We report measurements of the neutral NO, O-2, and Na emissions accomp anying pulsed laser irradiation of single crystal NaNO3 at 248 nm as a function of exposure to 2500 eV electrons. Electron irradiation stron gly enhances the emission intensities, allowing for observable emissio ns at much lower laser fluences, We present preliminary results on the dependence of these emissions on electron dose and laser fluence and employ time-of-flight measurements to determine the peak surface tempe rature during the laser pulse. The surface temperature measurements ar e consistent with near-surface heating by laser absorption at e-beam i nduced defects. This increase in surface temperature plays a significa nt role in enhancing the observed neutral species intensities due to t hermally activated steps in the emission process.