Diagnostics of laser-induced plasma on carbon-based polymer material using atomic and molecular emission spectra

Abstract

Time-integrated optical emission analysis of laser-induced plasma on Teflon is presented. Plasma was induced under atmospheric pressure air using TEA CO2 (Transversely Excited Atmospheric carbon dioxide) laser pulses. Teflon is a carbon-based polymer that is, among other things, interesting as a substrate for LIBS analysis of liquid samples. The research aimed to determine the optimal experimental conditions for obtaining neutral and ionized carbon spectral lines and C2 and CN molecular bands emission suitable for spectrochemical purposes. Evaluation of plasma parameters was done using several spectroscopic techniques. Stark profiles of appropriate carbon ionic lines were used to determine electron number density. The ratio of the integral intensity of ionic to atomic carbon spectral lines was used to determine the ionization temperature. Spectral emission of C2 Swan and CN violet bands system was used to determine the temperature of the colder, peripheral parts of plasma. We critically analyzed the use of molecular emission bands as a tool for plasma diagnostics and suggested methods for possible improvements.