Studies of plasma and craters produced by the interaction of high-energy sub-nanosecond laser with silver target

The results of measurements of microablation from a silver target irradiated by the high-power PALS laser system in Prague are presented. In this experiment the laser beam of energy of about 110 J in a 400 ps pulse was focused perpendicularly to the massive silver target. The target surface position was changed with respect to the focal spot of the laser beam in the range from -2.5 to 2.5 mm. A set of four ion collectors was used for plasma ion emission measurements. The effect of the laser pulse interaction with the target, i.e. craters and damages formed in the vicinity of the craters, were investigated with the use of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and optical microscopy methods. The characteristics of the crater were compared with the essential parameters of ion streams emitted from the plasma produced in the same laser shot.