Emission studies of Ba hexaferrite plume produced by a KrF excimer laser

Optical emission measurements and intensified charge coupled detector images of a plasma generated by the interaction of a KrF excimer laser with a Ba-ferrite target have been used to study the laser ablation deposition of Ba ferrite thin films. Time integrated spectra were collected as a function of distance above the target surface and as a function of oxygen pressure. Temporal profiles showed that close to the target the plume is insensitive to ambient oxygen pressure and at greater distances a much more pronounced influence is observed. Time resolved images of the overall optical plasma emission clearly demonstrated how the presence of oxygen confines the plasma and enhances its emission.