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 N-2(A(3) Sigma(u)(+))-->N-2(X(1) Sigma(g)(+)), N-2(C-3 Pi(u))-->N-2(B-3 Pi(g)) and N(D-2)-->N(S-4) 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.