Effect of irradiation angle on the efficiency of formation of multiply charged ions in a laser-produced plasma

Mass spectrometry is used to investigate the emission behaviour and the characteristics of multiply charged ions in a plasma produced at small angles of incidence of laser radiation (α ~ 20°) and also at grazing incidence (α ~ 85°). It is found that upon grazing incidence of the laser radiation onto a target, the efficiency of production of multiply charged ions is reduced compared to that for α ~ 20°. However, this geometry of laser irradiation of solids can be used for the elemental analysis of surface layers of a sample.