Pulsed laser ablation: reactivity of photoablated neutral particles from Fe-Cr alloy

In this paper experimental measurements taken in our laboratory on pulsed laser ablation of a Fe-Cr alloy by Nd:YAG and KrF lasers are reported. REMPI ionization of the neutral Fe and Cr atoms formed indicates that the atoms in the excited states are not completely quenched when they are carried by the supersonic jet. The formation and stability of clusters of photoablated mono and diatomic metals with NH 3 molecules has also been investigated and the results show that they can generate electrostatic bonded clusters.