Laser ablation of absorbing liquids

Abstract

We have studied experimentally the formation of microdroplets upon the ablation of an aqueous CuCl2 solution by pulsed laser radiation. Laser fluence dependences are obtained from the number of droplets formed and from their statistical size distribution. The experimental data obtained can be explained within the framework of our acoustical microfragmentation model providing for excitation and interference in the field of laser acoustic waves of random phases. The ablation mechanism suggested is of universal character and manifests itself particularly in the laser ablation of biotissues.