Measurement and analysis of atomic and diatomic carbon spectra from laser ablation of graphite

Spectra from plasma produced by laser-induced breakdown of graphite were recorded and analyzed to increase our understanding of the way in which carbon nanoparticles are created during Nd:YAG laser ablation of graphite. The effects of various buffer gases were studied. Electron density and temperature were determined from spectra of the first and second ions of atomic carbon. The C-2 Swan spectrum was also prominent in most of the measured spectra. Temperature was inferred from each experimental Swan spectrum by determination of the temperature for which a synthetic Swan spectrum best fitted, in the least-squares sense, the measured spectrum. (C) 2003 Optical Society of America.