  Wires of sp-hybridized carbon atoms are attracting interest for both
fundamental aspects of carbon science and for their appealing functional
properties. The synthesis by physical vapor deposition has been reported to
provide sp-rich carbon films but still needs to be further developed and
understood in detail. Here the synthesis of carbon-atom wires (CAWs) has been
achieved by nanosecond pulsed laser deposition (PLD) expoliting the strong
out-of-equilibrium conditions occurring when the ablation plasma is confined in
a background gas. Surface Enhnaced Raman scattering (SERS) spectra of deposited
films indicates that CAWs are mixed with a mainly $sp^2$ amorphous carbon in a
$sp-sp^2$ hybrid material. Optimal conditions for the deposition of sp-carbon
phase have been investigated by changing deposition parameters thus suggesting
basic mechanisms of carbon wires formation. Our proof-of-concept may open new
perspectives for the targeted fabrication of CAWs and $sp-sp^2$ structures.
