Droplet distribution during sub-picosecond laser deposition of gold nanoparticles

•Undesired spherical droplets appear on the film during sub-ps ablation of bulk gold.•Low electron-phonon coupling induce heat-affected zones producing these droplets.•Laser fluence, target-substrate distance and pulses per site affect droplet density.•Considerable increase of droplet density with the number of pulses per site.