1. High-Z Ultrathin Foil Fabrication for Intense Laser Experiments
- Author
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S. Le Tacon, R. Bourdenet, M. Theobald, C. Chicanne, N. Cermelli, and I. Geoffray
- Subjects
Nuclear and High Energy Physics ,Materials science ,Fabrication ,Opacity ,020209 energy ,chemistry.chemical_element ,02 engineering and technology ,Surface finish ,01 natural sciences ,010305 fluids & plasmas ,law.invention ,Machining ,Aluminium ,law ,0103 physical sciences ,0202 electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering ,General Materials Science ,FOIL method ,Civil and Structural Engineering ,business.industry ,Mechanical Engineering ,Laser ,Nuclear Energy and Engineering ,chemistry ,Physical vapor deposition ,Optoelectronics ,business - Abstract
High-Z metallic foils including rare-earth (RE) elements are required for some experiments implemented on the Laser Megajoule. A specific process based on physical vapor deposition and laser machining was developed to produce high-Z material foils meeting strict specifications. This process allows pure metallic ultrathin foil fabrication from a few hundred nanometers to several microns of thickness of any high-Z materials. In the case of RE metals sensitive to oxidation, thin foils are buried under aluminum protective layers of about a few hundred nanometers. These metallic thin foils are flat, show thickness uniformity over 95%/cm2, and have roughness of about 10 nm. The foils are opaque to light, have a density similar to bulk material, present an oxygen content of about 1 at. %, and are stable over months under atmospheric conditions.
- Published
- 2017
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