Observation of nano-particle formation process in a laser-ablated plume using imaging spectroscopy

The behavior of atomic species and of growing nano-particles in the laser-ablated plume was observed by laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) and Rayleigh scattering (RS) imaging techniques, and the results on the ablation of silicon (Si) in a He ambient are presented. The particles were formed in a limited region in the plume with a characteristic spatial distribution. The growth of the particles was completed about 20 ms after ablation at a helium (He) ambient pressure of 1.33 kPa and 50 ms at 0.67 kPa. The spatial distributions of the particles was retained for more than one second.