Abstract
Laser heating of macroscopic objects follows the Fourier law of diffusive heat conduction. However, when the dimensions of a structure approach the mean free path of the phonons, heat transport is properly described by the equations of ballistic-diffusive or ballistic transport. Due to the coexistence of these different mechanisms in most nanostructures, the description of their rapid laser heating becomes complex. Experimental assessment of the thermal load on these structures through IR imaging is currently too slow and lacks the spatial resolution to be useful. In this paper, we introduce a method based on measuring the laser-induced yields of quasimolecular ions that enables the comparison of the thermal loads on different structures. Due to the difference in the activation energies of the desorption processes, sodiated and potassiated peptide ion intensities become equal at a certain surface temperature. The laser fluences at which these ion yields are equal for two different structures correspond to equivalent thermal loads. As an example, we compare the nanosecond laser heating of silicon nanopost arrays (NAPA) with diverse post diameters and periodicities. Assessment of the thermal load through ion yield measurements can also be used to verify model assumptions for heat transport regimes of nanostructures.
