Surface nanostructuring of laser ablated copper in ambient gas atmosphere and a magnetic field

A comprehensive study on deposition of copper nanoclusters back on to the laser ablated target in combined ambient of gas and a magnetic field is reported. The characteristics and mechanism of the inverse plume deposition are investigated by characterizing the laser ablated plasma plume using time resolved imaging and optical emission of the plume. The morphology of the deposited particles in presence of magnetic field depends on the nature of the ambient gas used; the elliptical shape of reverse deposited particles changes to spherical with the increase in mass of the ambient gas. The structural, morphological, and optical properties of the deposited nanoclusters were studied by using x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope and photoluminescence spectra respectively. The possibility of enhanced deposition rates in combined ambient gas and a magnetic field has potentials of industrial applications of the process.