Ablation of metal particles with laser light: shape and polarization effects

Abstract

Laser‐induced desorption of metal atoms from the surface of small metal particles has been investigated as a function of the shape of the particles and the polarization of the incident laser light. The particles were supported on LiF, quartz, or sapphire substrates. The shape of the particles was determined by recording optical transmission spectra. In further experiments, s‐ and p‐polarized light has been used to stimulate desorption of atoms via surface plasmon excitation. The desorption rate markedly depends on the polarization of the light. This is explained by excitation of the collective electron oscillation along different axes of the non‐spherical particles.