Charged species analysis in YNi2B2C laser ablation by time-of-¯ight mass spectrometry

We report an experimental characterization of the charged species produced in excimer laser ablation of a borocarbide target by using time-of-¯ight mass spectrometry. The observed TOF distribution show a double peak structure. A very interesting aspect of our experimental results is the observation of an ion spatial distribution characterized by the presence of heavier ions in the plume center and the lighter ones at plume edges. # 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved