Laser-induced backward transfer of gold nanodroplets

It is demonstrated that femtosecond laser-induced processes can be applied for controllable transfer of spherical gold nanodroplets from a thin gold film towards a glass substrate. The size of the transferred droplets depends on the volume of laser-molten gold and can be varied by changing the laser beam focus on the sample surface and the film thickness. Single- and multi-pulse fabrication of microstructures consisting of spherical gold nanodroplets is demonstrated. Mechanisms of these laser-induced backward transfer processes are discussed.