Characteristics of target polarization by laser ablation

Experimental results are obtained concerning the target polarization, which aptly characterizes the laser ablation. The charge separation in the laser-produced plasma, structure of the ion front, and the current of fast electrons expanding into the vacuum chamber ahead of ions are of crucial importance for the interpretation of multi-peak structure of target currents appearing much later than the laser pulse. Of particular interest is the correlation between the partial maxima in the time-resolved target current and the square root of mass number of ionized species. The late-time negative charging of targets provides evidence for production of very slow ions by ionization of neutrals ablated at the target crater by radiation from plasma produced by 23 ns excimer krypton fluoride laser