Formation of a Frozen Nitrogen Target and Characterization for the Application of Pulsed Laser Deposition

ArF and/or KrF excimer laser irradiation on frozen nitrogen, formed on a Nb target using a refrigerator, has been performed. This technique makes it possible to effectively enhance the photo excited reaction between a laser beam and nitrogen because of the high density of nitrogen. The excitation and/or dissociation of nitrogen are examined using a spectroscope and a mass-spectrometer. As a result, the frozen nitrogen was excited via multiphoton processes and emissions of the transitions N2(A 3 Σ u +)→ N2(X 1 Σ g +), N2(C 3 Π u )→ N2(B 3 Π g ) and N(2 D)→ N(4 S) were observed. Furthermore, it was clarified that both nitrogen molecules and atoms were emitted from the frozen nitrogen effectively by co-ablation with Nb target ablation at a higher laser irradiation energy density.