Development of an Energy-Efficient Ultraviolet Light Source
To create an energy-efficient ultraviolet light source using plasma, both the shape of the laser pulse and that of the metal target are essential. This is demonstrated in the research conducted by physicist Yahia Mostafa. It could provide an alternative, efficient way to produce light sources for manufacturing computer chips. These chips are produced using extreme ultraviolet light with advanced high-tech machines.
Laser Pulses
To generate a hot and dense plasma that emits light, Mostafa and their research team spent days in the lab firing laser pulses at a microscopic liquid metal ten times per second. For each plasma event, they studied the emitted light and many other characteristics. This allowed them to gain insight into the physics of plasma formation. To verify and validate their models, the results were replicated using advanced computer simulations. The findings revealed that the hotter the plasma, the bluer the light, aiming to produce extreme ultraviolet light. Above all, creating an efficient plasma light source requires a laser pulse that is flat in both space and time.
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