Shielding of optical pulses on hydrodynamical time scales in laser-induced breakdown of saline water

Year: 2014

Authors: Conti-Sampol D., Marino F., Roati G., Orfila A., Javaloyes J., Piro O., Balle S.

Autors Affiliation: Inst Mediterrani Estudis Avancats CSIC UIB, Esporles 07190, Spain; CNR Ist Nazl Ott, I-50125 Florence, Italy; CNR Ist Nazl Ott, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy; Univ Firenze, LENS, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy; Univ Firenze, Dipartimento Fis & Astron, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy; Univ Illes Balears, Dept Fis, Palma De Mallorca 07122, Spain.

Abstract: Pulse shielding in Laser-Induced Breakdown of saline water on hydrodynamic time scales is experimentally characterized. Pairs of pulses from a Nd:YAG laser are focused into saline water with a controlled time delay between them. The Laser-Induced Breakdown produced by the first pulse creates a cavitation bubble that later collapses generating a plume of bubbles that evolves on hydrodynamic time scales. When the second pulse arrives, the light is scattered by this plume with a consequent reduction in the intensity at the focal spot resulting in a lower breakdown efficiency of this pulse. By means of acoustic measurements, we determine the breakdown energy threshold for the first pulse and characterize the shielding of the second pulse as a function of the salinity of the solution, the energy of the pulse, and the inter-pulse interval. A model for the blocking process that takes into account both linear and nonlinear absorption along the path is developed which satisfactorily explains the observations. (C) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC.

Journal/Review: JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSICS

Volume: 116 (3)      Pages from: 33102-1  to: 33102-10

More Information: We acknowledge technical support from Dr. Luca Furfaro (U. du Franche-Compte), and funding from the Direccio General de Recerca, Desenvolupament Tecnologic i Innovacio de la Conselleria d’Innovacio, Interior i Justicia del Govern de les Illes Balears co-funded by the European Union FEDER funds. J.J. acknowledges financial support from the Ramon y Cajal fellowship. F. Marino acknowledges partial financial support from UIB.
KeyWords: Variational Approach; Ablation; Dynamics; Plasma
DOI: 10.1063/1.4890313

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