Practically all theoretical approaches to pulsed laser deposition start on
a condition which is extremely hard to realize in practice: that the target
surface is smooth and plane. When using liquid (molten) targets, the probl
em of surface deterioration upon repetitive ablation can completely be solv
ed, allowing for fair comparison of experiment and theory. In this paper me
asured thickness profiles of metal films deposited in vacuum from molten In
, Sn, Bi and Sn-Bi alloy targets are compared with calculated distribution
functions. The strictly symmetrical thickness profiles of tin and indium fi
lms, derived from two-dimensional optical density maps and Rutherford backs
cattering data are analysed in terms of Lorentzian-like functions, originat
ing from the so-called shifted Maxwellian velocity distribution. The bismut
h profiles show a characteristic deviation from this shape. (C) 1999 Elsevi
er Science B.V. All rights reserved.