Transport of neutral atoms, monoxides and clusters in the plume produced by laser ablation of YBa2Cu3O7−x in oxygen environment

The dynamics of various neutral particles during laser ablation of YBa2Cu3O7−x in the O2 ambient gas is investigated using post ablation ionization mass spectrometry in combination with molecular beam technique. The O2 environment is found to favor oxide cluster formation in the ablation plume. The pressure above ∼ 100 mTorr results in a pulsating character of the plume expansion within a finite propagation distance.