Emission of prompt electrons during excimer laser ablation of aluminum targets

We report on prompt emission of fast electrons occurring during xenon-fluor ide (351 nm) laser ablation of aluminum targets in the nanosecond regime. W e have measured both the kinetic energy distribution and the energy-integra ted time-of-flight distribution of these electrons. Experimental data evide nce that the energetic electrons are produced during the laser pulse as a c onsequence of two-photon processes, and that space-charge effects influence the photoemitted electron kinetic energy, leading to prompt electrons kine tic energy distributions extending up to approximate to 15 eV. (C) 1999 Ame rican Institute of Physics. [S0003-6951(99)02927-7].