High current photoelectric effects with VUV F2 laser irradiated metals

We report investigations of photoemission from a bulk Ni target using an ∼10 ns pulse duration, 157 nm F2 laser source. Photoelectric response may provide information relevant for understanding the basic laser–solid interaction mechanisms and also has potential practical applications. One example of this is the development of a simple, solar-blind F2 laser detector based on photoemission, which allows fast time response measurement of the laser pulse shape. It has also been demonstrated that with a suitably designed diode, current pulses of several amperes can be generated from Ni using the F2 laser at very low cathode fluence (<1 mJ cm−2 on the cathode) where surface heating is negligible.