Laser-induced phenomena at liquid-glass interfaces: Particle deposition and holographic bubble grating formation

Intense diffraction from a periodic array of microscopic bubbles is reported. These bubble gratings are generated by 100-ps, 1.06-μm pulses of intensity 108–109 W/cm2 which are crossed at a liquid-dielectric interface. The time dependence of the diffraction yields information on the surface bubble expansion, contraction, and migration. It is demonstrated that there is a mechanism by which optical radiation can transfer impurity particles from the liquid to the glass surface. These surface particles are strongly heated by subsequent laser pulses, causing them to produce bubbles. Laser-induced particle deposition also lowers the threshold for surface damage. Once attached, the particles can be removed from the surface using a double pulse sequence with pulse separations ≤30 ns. This desorption process is related to the temperatures and cooling rates of the surface particles, which can be estimated by analyzing the spectral and temporal characteristics of the emitted blackbody radiation. The dependence of these phenomena on the laser intensity and the chemical properties of the liquid is described, and a variety of possible applications are discussed.