ABSTRACTThe evaporation mechanism of CdTe, HgTe and HgO.7CdO.3Te under high power laser irradiation was investigated using mass spectroscopy. Results were compared to thermal evaporation. Thermal evaporation yields Te molecules and Cd(Hg) atoms. In the case of HgTe and Hgo.7Cdo.3Te, the evaporation is noncongruent. Evaporation induced by the irradiation of 1.06 μm Nd:YAG laser pulses evolves atomic Hg, Cd and Te congruently. The dissociative and congruent nature of this process makes it a very attractive technique for depositing thin films.