Laser-induced explosion of H_2O droplets: spatially resolved spectra

Abstract

Photographs and spatially resolved spectra were obtained with radiation generated by an exploding water droplet. The emission within the droplet consists of stimulated Raman scattering and a continuum associated with the created plasma. The forward plume (outside the shadow face) contains plasma and atomic hydrogen ejected from the droplet. The backward plume (behind the illuminated face) contains plasma, H, and ionized O and N, resulting from ionized air. Mechanisms for laser-induced explosion of large transparent water droplets are briefly discussed.