Electrostrictive distortion of a micrometer-sized droplet by a laser pulse

Abstract

The observed laser-induced distortion of a transparent micrometer-sized droplet [ Opt. Lett.13, 916 ( 1988)] is analyzed theoretically. Electrostriction causes a pulling force on the droplet surface, exciting surface waves of different angular momenta. The resultant surface motion is solved, and the droplet shapes at later times agree with observation, only if the intensity is assumed to be twice the experimentally reported value. Possible reasons for the discrepancy are discussed.