AbstractA series of experiments have been conducted which probe the origin of the polyatomic ions (e.g., Sr2O+, BiCu+) measured following the low fluence, pulsed UV laser irradiation of crystalline Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8 (BiSrCaCuO). The photoejection of polyatomic species presents a problem for the pulsed laser deposition (PLD) technique. The deposition of polyatomic products could limit epitaxial growth during thin film material processing. Our results indicate that the polyatomic species are not the consequence of a gas phase recombination, but are in fact directly produced. All experiments are done at laser fluences below that required for above surface plasma formation. As such, our results do not address the formation of large clusters within the dense plume in high fluence laser ablation.
