A combined experimental and molecular dynamics simulation study of laser ablation of a model bicomponent system with solutes of different volatility provides a consistent picture of the mechanisms of material ejection. The comparison of the ejection yields shows that there are two distinct regimes of molecular ejection, desorption at low laser fluences, and a collective ejection of a volume of material or ablation at higher fluences. Ejection of volatile solutes dominates in the desorption regime, whereas nonvolatile solutes are ejected only in the ablation regime.

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