PLD uses repetitive pulses from a laser of appropriate power density, angle
of incidence, and wavelength to ablate a localized area of evaporant into a vapor
plume. The wavelength is important to maximize photon absorption rather than
reflection. The flash evaporation nature of this technique, at least in the small
volume in which the laser pulse’s energy is dumped, is advantageous when
evaporating alloys or mixtures. The vapor plume tends to be stoichiometrically
similar to the bulk; however, the PLD vapor plume is not particularly convenient
because its flux distribution is closer to cos6 to the evaporant’s surface normal.