MICROPHONE DETECTION OF LASER-ABLATION

The microphone technique has been applied to the study of laser ablati on of a silicon target. The momentum flux of silicon atoms generated b y laser ablation at 266 nm was detected both at high vacuum and at bac kground gas conditions. The response of the microphone to an atomic pu lse of a few mu s was in agreement with theoretical expectations. The magnitude of the microphone signal increased linearly with laser fluen ce. A pulsed valve was adopted to also compare the response of the mic rophone at longer pulse durations. (C) 1997 American Institute of Phys ics.