Dusty plasmas measurements: efficient particle detection in the nanometer scale

We present a detection method for small particles based on laser induced particle explosive evaporation (LIPEE) using a XeCl excimer laser (λ=308 nm). Using this technique, it is possible to detect the first crystallites (2 nm size) appearing in the plasma and to show the start of coalescence of these crystallites. The experiments have been performed in conditions where the particle size is known as a function of the RF discharge duration T_on for T_on⩾500 ms from previous ex-situ (TEM) measurements. They confirm that crystallite formation is the critical step to grow large scale particles