In this work, Al70Pd20Mn10 quasicrystalline targets were evaporated by a doubled Nd:glass laser with a pulse duration of 250 fs. The produced plasma has been analysed by time of flight mass spectrometry, optical emission spectroscopy and fast imaging. The results indicate that the plume is more complex as compared to other quasi crystalline systems with the presence of quite large clusters and with a higher ionisation degree. The analyses on the deposited films indicate that the vaporisation is not congruent. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.