SELF-ORGANIZATION IN THIN GOLD FILM TO NANOPARTICLES AFTER NANOSECOND-LASER IRRADIATION

Evolution in nanoparticle formation was observed after nanosecond-laser irradiation of thin gold films on a silicon substrate and physical phenomena leading to the formation of nanoparticles were studied. Gold films of different thickness were evaporated on the silicon substrate and irradiated with the pulsed nanosecond laser using different pulse energies and the number of pulses in a burst. With the pulse energy just above the threshold of the phase transition, it was possible to observe evolution of nanoparticle formation. The final size of nanoparticles was a function of the film thickness and was found to be independent of the pulse energy and the number of pulses.