Laser Spectroscopy & Applied Materials Group

Laser Spectroscopy and Applied Materials Group research is lead by Dr. Rick Russo of the Environmental Energy Technologies Division at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) in Berkeley, California, U.S.A.

Our research is focused on understanding the fundamental mechanisms of Laser-Material Interaction and developing new materials and new applications for laser technologies. Our primary interest lies in understanding fundamental ablation mechanisms, including laser energy coupling to solid samples, plasma properties, crater formation, and gas dynamics of ablation plumes. Research includes chemical analysis with Laser Ablation Inductively-Coupled-Plasma Mass-Spectroscopy (LA-ICP-MS), Thin Films Synthesis by Pulse Laser Deposition (PLD), Laser Nanotechnology, and Laser Ultrasonics.