Laser induced heating and emission of electrons from metallic targets

A high power laser incident on a metallic target heats the electrons in the skin layer within a few ps. For a specific dependence of electron-phonon c ollision frequency on electron temperature, v alpha T-c(1/2), the steady st ate electron temperature profile turns out to be an exponential function of depth. The heated electrons raise the rate of thermionic emission. When th e laser is significantly converted into a surface plasma wave the rate of h earing and emission is considerably enhanced. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V . All rights reserved.