Studies on Laser Generated Vacuum Ultraviolet Radiation and Spectroscopic Investigations of Light Elements in Laser-Produced Plasmas

Abstract: A system for generating and detecting laser-produced radiation in the wavelength region below 200 nm has been constructed. The generation techniques are mainly based on nonlinear frequency mixing processes in gaseous media. Other techniques for the production of vacuum ultraviolet radiation, for instance the use of a laser-produced plasma, are briefly discussed. Laser-produced plasmas have also been used for the production of free atoms and ions from the light elements boron, carbon and silicon. Laser spectroscopic experiments have been performed on these elements, and it has been shown that the hostile environments in the plasma plume do not hinder accurate measurements of radiative lifetimes and hyperfine structure constants. Amplified spontaneous emission for carbon atoms in the plasma was also investigated.