Nikolai N. Koval

Modification of the Near-Surface Layers of a Copper Foil under the Action of a Volume Gas Discharge in Air at Atmospheric Pressure

We have studied the modification of the near-surface layers of a copper foil under the action of a volume gas discharge, which was generated in air at atmospheric pressure by nanosecond high-voltage pulses of both negative and positive polarity applied between the foil and an electrode with a small radius of curvature. It is established that the surface layer of the discharge-treated copper foil in the central region is cleaned from carbon contaminations, while oxygen atoms penetrate in depth of the foil. The depth of a cleaned layer depends on the polarity of voltage pulses. For the positive voltage polarity on the foil, the cleaning takes place up to a depth exceeding 50 nm, while oxygen penetrates up to a depth of about 25 nm.

IR- and UV-laser interaction with metal surfaces

The complex of experimental installations for studying of laser radiation interaction with surface of metals has been established. At titanium surface irradiating depending on the accumulated laser radiation energy, the surface color might be changed from bright yellow to red and deep-blue colors. The presented results testify to the possibility to use the change of titanium surface color at heating by laser irradiation in the open air to obtain dot raster images. Presently, form the world data available on interaction of laser radiation with metal and dielectric surfaces and development of experimental diagnostics techniques by itself it is allowed to raise a reverse question, i.e., restoration of laser radiation energy spatial distribution through surface imprint. Using imprints, it is also possible to make an express diagnostics of multi-layer surface coatings. With this in mind, we have made the detailed morphology of imprint of the pulsed HF-laser interaction with carbon steel surface through atomic force microscope.

Emission properties of a plasma cathode based on a glow discharge for generating nanosecond electron beams

The emission properties of a plasma cathode based on a nanosecond pulsed glow discharge with currents of up to 200A at a pressure of 5×10−2 Pa are studied experimentally. Stable ignition and burning of the discharge are ensured if the current in the auxiliary pulsed discharge is 25–30% of that in the main discharge and its pulse duration exceeds that of the main discharge by more than an order of magnitude. Emission current pulses from the cathode with amplitudes of up to 140A fully reproduce the discharge current and are determined by the transparency of the grid anode.

Modification of thin metal and ceramic films by UV and IR laser radiation

Investigation of the modes of thin metal and ceramic films (0,3-1 μm) removal from the glass and stainless steel substrate by IR and UV laser radiation has been performed. It is presented that the efficient film destruction and removal occurs due to laser induced thermal strength under laser fluxes of ~0.5 J/cm2 not sufficient for phase transformation.

Study on the interaction of Xe and XeCl-laser radiation with metals and ceramics

The interaction of Xe- (λ~1.73 µm) and XeCl- (0.308 μm) lasers radiation with surfaces of metal and TiN-ceramic coatings on glass and steel substrates has been studied. Correlation between parameters of surface erosion (area of crater and amount of evaporated material versus laser focus position and number of pulses) was investigated. Monitoring of laser induced erosion on smooth polished surfaces was performed using optical microscopy. The correlation has been revealed between characteristic zones of thin coatings damaged by irradiation and energy distribution over laser beam cross section allowing evaluation of defects and adhesion of coatings.