Abstract

High intensity laser interactions with large absorbing droplets can cause shape distortion and explosive vaporization. The nonuniform internal field distribution of the large droplets leads to nonuniform heating and results in nonspherical vaporization characterized by plume ejection from the illuminated and/or the shadow face of the droplet. Shadowgraph techniques have been used to determine the time development of these plumes,¹ which consist of vapor and/or hot liquid. A phase/ Doppler particle analyzer has been used to characterize the size and velocity of the particles expelled.² However, the interface between the droplet and ejected plume could not be distinguished with these techniques.

© 1989 Optical Society of America