Laser-induced reconstruction of Ag clusters in helium droplets

Silver clusters were assembled in helium droplets of different sizes ranging from 10(5) to 10(10) atoms. The absorption of the clusters was studied upon laser irradiation at 355 nm and 532 nm, which is close to the plasmon resonance maximum in spherical Ag clusters and in the range of the absorption of the complex, branched Ag clusters, respectively. The absorption of the pulsed (7 ns) radiation at 532 nm shows some pronounced saturation effects, absent upon the continuous irradiation. This phenomenon has been discussed in terms of the melting of the complex Ag clusters at high laser fluence, resulting in a loss of the 532 nm absorption. Estimates of the heat transfer also indicate that a bubble may be formed around the hot cluster at high fluences, which may result in ejection of the cluster from the droplet, or disintegration of the droplet entirely. Published by AIP Publishing.