Optical Emission Studies of a Plume Produced by Laser Ablation of a Graphite Target in a Nitrogen Atmosphere

∆v = 0) were simulated to obtain the vibrational and rotational temperatures ofthe electronically excited species at various laser fluences and distances from the target. The spectroscopictemperatures of both molecules were found to be nearly independent of the laser fluence. The temperature ofCN molecules was peaked in the mi ddle of the plume while that of C