Obiettivo The project proposes a comprehensive study of cluster formation during pulsed laser ablation (PLA) of solid targets. The study is directed to correlate the structural properties of the target material with the identity of the formed clusters in an attempt to establish general principles, which can indicate the way for the synthesis of new nanostructured materials. A key point of the project is to model cluster formation under the actual dynamic conditions of the PLA plume. The experimental investigations will provide the basis for the modelling and a check of the correctness of the models. The experiments will involve mass spectrometric analysis of cluster abundance distributions under various PLA conditions, identification and characterisation of the most stable nanoparticles. Particular attention will be given to comparison of nanosecond- and femtosecond PLA regimes in respect to cluster formation. A number of target materials important to fundamental and applied studies will be investigated. The main objectives of the project are:- To determine the origin of clusters existing in the laser-induced plume and to elucidate the dominant mechanisms responsible for clustering processes under different ablation conditions and at different ablation stages;- To reveal the ablation conditions favouring the formation of stable "magic" clusters;- To develop models for cluster formation during PLA in vacuum and an ambient gas taking into account the actual plume dynamics.The research teams involved to the proposed project have the wide range of necessary complementary experimental methods and joint expertise in the field of laser ablation and nanocluster synthesis. In addition, the strong background of the teams in applying and developing hydrodynamic, kinetic, and statistical modelling provides the basis for an advance in the understanding and theoretical treatments of cluster formation processes during PLA. The work plan is designed in terms of three major interlinked scientific tasks determined by the cluster formation mechanisms under study: (1) Interaction of laser radiation with solids and direct cluster emission, (2) Nanocluster formation in PLA plume, and (3) PLA generation of stable "magic" clusters and nanostructures. The experimental data abundance distribution for neutral and ionised clusters generated under PLA both in vacuum and background gas will be obtained. Mechanisms and PLA conditions for direct cluster emission and formation of stable "magic" clusters will be revealed. A correlation between the characteristics of free deposited clusters and the properties of PLA-produced nanostructures will be established. Dynamic modelling of the laser energy transformation in the target and particle emission from its surface will be performed. A number of theoretical approaches (kinetic, hydro- and plasmodynamic, direct simulation Monte Carlo) will be used to describe the nanocluster generation at the PLA plume expansion stage. Programma(i) IC-INTAS - International Association for the promotion of cooperation with scientists from the independent states of the former Soviet Union (INTAS), 1993- Argomento(i) OPEN - OPEN Call Invito a presentare proposte Data not available Meccanismo di finanziamento Data not available Coordinatore Marseille University II Contributo UE Nessun dato Indirizzo avenue de Luminy 163 13288 Marseille Cedex 9 Francia Mostra sulla mappa Costo totale Nessun dato Partecipanti (3) Classifica in ordine alfabetico Classifica per Contributo UE Espandi tutto Riduci tutto Gothenburg University and Chalmers University of Technology Svezia Contributo UE Nessun dato Indirizzo Fysikgrand 3 41296 Gothenburg Mostra sulla mappa Costo totale Nessun dato Russian Academy of Sciences/ Siberian Branch Institute of Thermophysics Russia Contributo UE Nessun dato Indirizzo prospekt Lavrentyev 1 630090 Novosibirsk Mostra sulla mappa Costo totale Nessun dato St.-Petersburg State Polytechnical University Russia Contributo UE Nessun dato Indirizzo Polytechnicheskaya 29 195251 St.-Petersburg Mostra sulla mappa Costo totale Nessun dato
