Role and importance of nanoparticles in femtosecond pulsed laser ablation deposition of Al-Cu-Fe quasicrystal

The secondary plume produced by femtosecond laser ablation of an Al-Cu-Fe quasicrystal has been studied. The data evidence the presence of hot nanoparticles produced several microseconds after the laser shot. The cooling mechanisms of these particles have been analysed together with the evolution of their composition.