[en] An experiment is described where Li- and Al-beams were generated by ablation of thin, multi-layer targets using a Q-Switched ruby laser with a total energy density up to 30 Jcm^-2. Measurements using laser induced fluorescence and mass spectroscopy were combined to analyse the energy- and density distribution and the temporal structure of the beams. The maximum energy turned out to be several eV for Li and several 10 eV for Al with a peak density in the range of 10¹⁰ cm^-3 for both Li and Al. The targets were analysed by optical microscopy and secondary ion mass spectroscopy providing information about the size of the spots and the structure of the metal film before and after the ablation experiment. (orig.)