Vacuum ultraviolet Ar excimer emission initiated by high intensity laser produced electrons

We have observed Ar-2* emission using a tabletop femtosecond high intensity laser as an excitation source. High intensity laser produced electrons via an optical field induced ionization (OFI) process initiated the Ar-2* prod uction kinetics. Excimer production kinetic analysis suggests that ground s tate neutral dimers in a supersonic pulsed gas jet played a role in the pro duction of Ar-2*. This production method differs from the three-body associ ation process found in electron beam initiated high pressure Ar gas. A fast conductive cooling of the OFI plasma was found to be appropriate to initia te the excimer formation kinetics more efficiently. (C) 2000 Elsevier Scien ce B.V. All rights reserved.