Optical emission spectroscopy study of the plume during laser ablation of boron-rich target

We report on the results of optical emission spectroscopy investigation of the ablation plume produced after pulsed laser irradiation of B and BN targets in N₂ environment at pressure of 400 Torr. A pulsed Nd: YAG laser, 355 nm wavelength with duration of ~7 ns, was employed to irradiate the boron-rich target. The laser fluence was set at ~9 J/cm² at the surface of the target. The chemical species dominant in the ablation plume were identified via their optical emission spectra, collected at different spatial regions of the plume. Temporal evolution of the emission of several species was studied as well. The plume is rich in molecular species and atomic species, both B and N in different charge states. The study allows an insight in the physics and the chemical kinetics of the laser ablation of boron-rich target.