The Influence of Laser Radiation on an Absorbing Aerosol

Abstract

ABSTRACTWhen aerosol particles are immersed in a gas in which a temperature gradient is present, a force proportional to this gradient moves these particles toward the lower temperature. This is the thermophoretic force.It is responsible for the deposition of aerosol particles in processes employed in the manufacture of gradient index silicon dioxide, germanium dioxide optical fiber preforms.The deposition efficiency is approximately 50%, and in order to increase this efficiency, we have examined the interaction of an absorbing silicon dioxide aerosol with carbon dioxide laser radiation.The resulting temperature profile mirrors the intensity distribution, since the aerosol temperature is proportional to the local laser intensity.The absorbed radiation thus creates a temperature gradient that results in additional thermophoretic and convective motion. A simple model of laser-induced buoyant convection and thermophoresis is presented, and it is shown how deposition efficiency can be increased with laser radiation.Theoretical and preliminary experimental results are discussed.