Analysis of the plume expansion from laser ablated SmBaCuO target

The plasma produced by laser ablation of a Sm1Ba2Cu3O7ÿx target was investigated by means of optical emission spectroscopy. Optical spectroscopy provides information on the composition of the species presented in the plume and on their time evolution. Intensi®ed charge coupled device photography gives information on the velocities of the charged and neutral species in the expanding plume. The deposited ®lms have been analyzed by means of time of ¯ight mass spectroscopy. # 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved