Fractal-like aggregation of Au islands induced by laser irradiation

Au islands deposited on Al2O3 films were irradiated with a pulsed laser beam. The result is the formation of depleted zones and chains of aggregates at the edge of the irradiated area. The fractal analysis of these Au cluster chains formed after irradiation gives a dimension of 1.50-1.55 consistent with the process of cluster-cluster aggregation which occurs under diffusion limited conditions.