The European Physical Journal Applied Physics

Table of Contents - November 2001 - Volume 16, Issue 02  

Imaging, Microscopy and Spectroscopy

Numerical modeling of the transmission of breakdown plasma generated in water during laser shock processing

A. Solliera1, L. Berthea1 and R. Fabbroa1

Coopération Laser Franco-Allemande (CLFA), 16 bis avenue Prieur de la Côte d'Or, 94114 Arcueil Cedex, France

Abstract

The transmission of breakdown plasma generated in water during laser shock processing experiments was investigated theoretically. A numerical model based on a rate equation formalism has been developed to calculate the characteristics (peak irradiance and duration) of the laser pulses transmitted through the breakdown plasmas generated in water. Results are in good agreement with previous experimental data for 25 ns−1064 nm laser pulses. Above 10 GW/cm2, the transmitted peak irradiance saturates and the transmission starts to decrease. The results have been extended to shorter wavelengths (532 and 355 nm). At 1064 nm, the breakdown process is dominated by avalanche ionization, whereas for shorter wavelengths, multiphoton ionization plays the major role.

(Received February 9 2001)

(Revised June 28 2001)

(Accepted July 13 2001)

(Online publication November 15 2001)

PACS:

  • 52.50.Jm – Plasma production and heating by laser beams (laser-foil, laser-cluster, etc.);
  • 52.65.-y – Plasma simulation

asollier@clfa.fr