Formation of diamond particulates by pulsed ruby laser irradiation of graphite immersed in benzene

Pulsed ruby laser irradiation of pyrolytic graphite surface under benzene is shown to lead to formation of diamond particulates. Use of the techniques of laser Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and small angle x-ray diffraction has been made to establish the result. A model based on the notion of hydrodynamic sputtering is proposed to explain the process.