Self-organisation of ordered ensembles of nanoparticles upon laser-controlled deposition of atoms

Abstract

A review of experiments is presented on the preparation of quasi-ordered ensembles of nanoparticles under the action of low-intensity laser radiation on the process of low-temperature deposition of atoms on the isotropic surface of a solid. The mechanism of cooperative nucleation of ordered ensembles of nanoparticles is developed which is based on the concept of photostimulated migration of surface defects (adatoms and dimers) and their elastic interaction with each other resulting in the development of the surface defect-deformation instability involving surface quasi-Rayleigh waves. The mechanism of monochromatisation of particles over their size under the action of low-intensity laser radiation during the growth of nanoparticles, which appears due to the dependence of the local field inside a nanoparticle on its size and shape, is also considered. The theoretical results agree with the experimental data on the preparation of quasi-hexagonal ensembles of nanoparticles upon low-temperature laser-controlled deposition of Ga atoms on the end of a silica fibre.