Cavitation dynamics and directional microbubble ejection induced by intense femtosecond laser pulses in liquids

Phys Rev E Stat Nonlin Soft Matter Phys. 2012 Sep;86(3 Pt 2):036304. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevE.86.036304. Epub 2012 Sep 5.

Abstract

We study cavitation dynamics when focusing ring-shaped femtosecond laser beams in water. This focusing geometry reduces detrimental nonlinear beam distortions and enhances energy deposition within the medium, localized at the focal spot. We observe remarkable postcollapse dynamics of elongated cavitation bubbles with high-speed ejection of microbubbles out of the laser focal region. Bubbles are ejected along the laser axis in both directions (away and towards the laser). The initial shape of the cavitation bubble is also seen to either enhance or completely suppress jet formation during collapse. In the absence of jetting, microbubble ejection occurs orthogonal to the laser propagation axis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Computer Simulation
  • Gases / chemistry*
  • Gases / radiation effects*
  • Lasers*
  • Microbubbles*
  • Models, Chemical*
  • Rheology / methods*
  • Solutions / chemistry*
  • Solutions / radiation effects*

Substances

  • Gases
  • Solutions