Open AccessCharacteristics of femtosecond laser-induced shockwaves in air
Author(s) -
Olga Koritsoglou,
Didier Loison,
O. Utéza,
Alexandros Mouskeftaras
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.468224
Subject(s) - femtosecond , optics , laser , materials science , wavelength , plasma , microscope , mach number , physics , quantum mechanics , mechanics
Dynamic characteristics of femtosecond laser-generated shockwaves are investigated in ambient air. The experiments are performed using a 360-fs pulsed laser at a wavelength of 1.03 µm, with laser intensities up to 5 × 10 14 W/cm 2 (corresponding to about five times the air breakdown intensity threshold). Plasma and shockwave generation and propagation are visualized using a time-resolved transmission microscope. The maximum propagation velocity is in the order of Mach 30. By implementing a simple theoretical model, we find an initial pressure loading in the GPa range and shockwave pressure dropping down to MPa following propagation over few micrometers away from focus.