Analysis of time-of-flight spectra of ions emitted from laser-generated plasmas

The appropriate analysis of time-of-flight (TOF) spectra of ion currents can give fundamental details in establishing the mechanisms responsible for the ion emission from a laser-created plasma. Some aspects of time-resolved ion currents measured with ion collectors are discussed. A deconvolution of TOF spectra, which is based on the use of Kelly Dreyfus function, is used to measure the temperatures and the centre-of-mass velocities of H(+) and C(q+) (1 <= q <= 6) ions emitted from a polyethylene target irradiated by the 3(rd) harmonics (lambda = 438 nm) of an iodine laser up to the intensity value of 2.5 x 10(16) W/cm(2).