Photon stimulated desorption of cations from yttria-stabilized cubic ZrO 100/

The positive ion yield resulting from the interaction of a pulsed 266-nm laser with yttria-stabilized cubic zirconia crystals is investigated. Although the photon energy 4.66 eV.is well below the nominal band-gap energy for ZrO2 5.0–5.5 eV., photon stimulated ion desorption PSD.of Yq, Zrq, YOqand ZrOqbegins at ;2.5 MWrcm2. We interpret this as the onset of laser ablation. Cation mass spectra collected using higher laser fluences resemble those obtained via secondary-ion mass spectrometry SIMS.. The similarity between the laser ablation and SIMS data demonstrates the importance of surface electronic structure effects in photon induced degradation of this material. q1998 Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Published by Elsevier Science B.V.