An acoustic backscattering technique for the detection of transient cavitation produced by microsecond pulses of ultrasound

An acoustic backscattering technique for detecting transient cavitation produced by 10-microseconds-long pulses of 757-kHz ultrasound is described. The system employs 10-microseconds-long, 30-MHz center frequency tone bursts that scatter from cavitation microbubbles. Experiments were performed with suspensions of hydrophobic polystyrene spheres in ultraclean water. Transient cavitation threshold pressures measured with the active cavitation detector (ACD) were always less than or equal to those measured using a passive acoustic detection scheme. The measured cavitation thresholds decreased with increasing dissolved gas content and increasing suspended particle concentration. Results also show that ultrasonic irradiation of the polystyrene sphere suspensions by the ACD lowered the threshold pressure measured with the passive detector. A possible mechanism through which suspensions of hydrophobic particles might nucleate bubbles is presented.     

Laser vaporisation of absorbing liquid under transparent cover

Vaporization of absorbing liquid (water) under a transparent solid cover upon exposure to nanosecond pulses of a holmium laser (λ = 2920 nm) is studied using acoustic and optical diagnostics. The features of the optical signal reflected from the liquid–cover interface suggest that a vapor cavity appears at a submicrometer distance from this interface and exists for about one hundred microseconds. An additional acoustic signal appearing after returning the light signal to the initial level is caused by known cavitation effects accompanying vapor cavity fracture and collapse in liquid.     

Generation of short light pulses under the stimulated Brillouin scattering in fibers with an optimal feedback

The generation of short light pulses (1 ns) in single mode fibers under pumping by wide laser pulses (of a microsecond duration) due to the backward stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) is numerically investigated. The influence of the acoustic diffraction is taken into account. The cases of acoustic waveguide and anti-waveguide fibers are considered. For an acoustic anti-waveguide fiber, a dependence of overlap integral S on the acoustic mode number n has a sharp peak in the region of n 100. Computer simulations have demonstrated the energy conversion of the pump wave into short pulses of the signal (Stokes) wave in the case of synchronous pumping. The optimal length of the fiber should be approximately equal to the half-length of the pump pulse. The bypass time of the Stokes pulse of the optimal circuit fiber and the feedback loop must be equal to the repetition period of the pump pulse. An importance of acoustic mode structure of the fiber for the process of forming pulse train in shown. We have found that the acoustic anti-waveguide fibers with a small core (a < 3 m) can be preferable for obtaining the stable train of compressed pulses.     

Modeling cavitation nucleation from laser-illuminated nanoparticles subjected to acoustic stress

In an earlier work by Farny et al. [ARLO 6, 138-143 (2005).] it was demonstrated that the acoustic cavitation threshold in a tissue mimicking gel phantom can be lowered from 4.5 to ～1 MPa by "seeding" the optically transparent phantom with light absorptive gold nanoparticles and irradiating these absorbers with nanosecond pulses of laser light at intensities less than 10 mJ/cm(2). As a follow-up study, a three-stage numerical model was developed to account for prenucleation heating, the nucleation and formation of the vapor cavity, and the resulting vapor bubble dynamics. Through examination of the radius-time evolution of the cavity, the combined thresholds for laser radiant exposure and acoustic peak pressure required to induce inertial cavitation are deduced. It is found that the threshold pressure decreases when laser exposure increases; but the rate depends on exposure levels and the size of the particle. Investigations of the roles of particle size and laser pulse length are performed and optimum choices for these parameters determined in order to obtain inertial cavitation at the lowest possible acoustic pressure and laser intensity.     

Generation and detection of shear acoustic waves in metal submicrometric films with ultrashort laser pulses

We present experimental and calculational results demonstrating the thermoelastic generation of shear acoustic waves using femtosecond laser pulses in submicrometric isotropic aluminum films. We show that the generation of the shear waves is correlated to the reduction of the width of the optoacoustic source on the surface. The presence of shear waves is related to acoustic diffraction and acoustic mode conversion at the thin film interfaces.     

On the Role of Supercritical Water in Laser-Induced Backside Wet Etching of Glass

The features and mechanisms of microcrater formation in optical silicate glass by laser-induced backside wet etching (LIBWE) are determined in a wide range of energy densities (Φ) from 4 to 10³ J/cm² for laser pulses of 5 ns length and 1 kHz repetition rate. The existence of two different mechanisms of laserinduced microcrater formation is revealed: (i) chemical etching in supercritical water (SCW), and (ii) cavitation. At Φ > 10² J/cm² irregular craters of 1–20 μm in depth with rough walls and distinct cracks around microcrater are formed testifying that in such mode (“hard”) laser induced cavitation plays a dominant role in glass removal. At Φ < J/cm² neat glass craters with smooth walls are formed, their size and shape are easily reproducible, cracks are not formed, and the processing area is limited to the laser spot area. In this mode (“soft mode with active cavitation”), a microcirculation of water is stimulated by cavitation without causing undesirable shock breakage. The latter is achieved thanks to the fast removal of glass etching products by microcirculation, and the inflow of “fresh” etchant (SCW) to the glass surface in the vicinity of the formed microcraters. Such mode is optimal for highly controlled laser microstructuring of glass and other optically transparent materials.     

光击穿机制下的光声能量转换效率

建立了激光声实验测量系统,利用脉冲激光聚焦击穿水介质产生声信号。由水听器将声信号转换成电信号并送入数字存储示波器,计算出声信号能量。对不同激光能量、激光聚焦位置和水体盐度下的光声能量转换效率进行了理论和实验研究。研究结果表明:随着激光能量的提高,能量转换效率逐渐减小;激光垂直水面入射时,随着激光聚焦深度的增加,能量转换效率会出现一次阶跃式变大,随后逐渐降低;等离子体对激光能量的吸收越充分,能量转换效率越高;水体盐度的变化对能量转换效率影响很小。     

Coherent control of acoustic vibrations in metal nanoparticles and thin films with sequences of femtosecond pulses: Harmonic-oscillator model

A harmonic oscillator model is used to demonstrate the possibility of coherent control of acoustic vibrations of metal nanoparticles and thin films with sequences of femtosecond laser pulses. When the interval between the pulses in such a sequence is chosen equal to the oscillation period of the expansion mode of a nanoscale system, the relevant acoustic vibrations can be excited in a resonant and selective way. Sequences of femtosecond pulses with picosecond time intervals between the pulses are shown to be ideally suited for a resonant excitation and coherent control of acoustic modes of silver nanoparticles.     

Dynamics of the spallative ablation of a GaAs surface irradiated by femtosecond laser pulses

The spallation of a nanometer-thick melt layer on a GaAs surface during its ablation by femtosecond laser pulses occurs with subnanosecond delays and lift-off velocities that depend on the laser fluence after its complete thermal (hydrodynamic) expansion/acoustic relaxation. The position of the spall interface in the melt is determined by the depth of the formation of a two-dimensional subsurface layer of nanobubbles (nanofoam), whereas the strongly heated surface layer of the melt above the nanofoam is partially removed in the form of a vapor-drop mixture. At the thermal expansion stage, acoustic reverberations are observed in the melt layer and characterize both the dynamics of an increase in its thickness and the shift of the cavitation region (nanofoam) inside the melt. Moreover, these reverberations can additionally stimulate spallation, promoting cavitation in the completely unloaded melt in the case of passage of a weak rarefaction wave.     

Laser picosecond acoustics in isotropic and anisotropic materials

We present experimental results concerning the laser generation of picosecond acoustic pulses and their propagation in isotropic and anisotropic materials. We make use of a conventional reflectance detection technique as well as interferometric detection to probe the real and imaginary changes in reflectance. We also demonstrate the detection of transverse acoustic waves by mode conversion at an interface between an isotropic polycrystalline film and an anisotropic substrate.     

Double-pulse LIBS of gadolinium oxide ablated by femto- and nano-second laser pulses

Emission characteristics of gadolinium (Gd) oxide are studied, using ns and fs laser pulses for ablation in double-pulse laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). In the current conditions of pulse energy and signal detection timing, emission intensity enhancement in the reheating mode is 25-fold, but little effect can be observed in a pre-pulse mode. It is shown that the optimum focus position of the ablation pulse is about 5 mm apart from the sample surface in the reheating mode. Although little emission can be observed in the single-pulse configuration with fs ablation pulses, the intense emission can be observed in the reheating mode in the double-pulse configuration.     

激光协同聚焦超声辐照生物样品增强热效应的实验和理论研究

对中等强度聚焦超声在生物样品中产生的热效应以及激光协同超声增强热效应进行了实验和理论研究。实验上,对生物和仿生样品在超声作用和激光协同超声作用下加热情况进行测量,通过对比表明,激光协同超声作用于生物样品,引起空化效应以及温度升高更为明显。同时,理论上对聚焦超声在生物样品中衰减产生的热效应、超声空化以及激光协同超声增强空化及其产生热效应进行机理分析。通过对机理的分析表明,激光引起的光致核化使超声空化更易于产生,有效的增强空化效应,进而增强热效应。为对具体实验给出量化分析和估算,通过理论与实验结果相拟合,对超声传播引起的温度升高进行计算,并估算超声和激光协同超声产生空化微泡对加热效应的不同贡献,为空化效应在超声治疗中的贡献提供参考数据。      

Measurement of the moments of the relaxation time spectrum of a liquid by pulsed acoustic spectroscopy

On the basis of theoretical results describing the propagation of short acoustic pulses in relaxation media, the temporal characteristics of a signal that carry the information on the first five moments of the relaxation time spectrum (RTS) are determined. The measurement of these characteristics forms the basis of the proposed variant of pulsed acoustic spectroscopy of relaxation media. An experimental setup was developed in which short acoustic pulses were excited by a neodymium glass laser. Test measurements of RTS moments for an acetic acid, the liquid with a single relaxation time, are carried out.     

Laser-enhanced thermal effects during focused ultrasound radiation on biological tissues

The thermal effects induced by a moderate intensity focused ultrasound and enhanced by combined laser pulses for bio-tissues and tissue-phantom are studied experimentally and theoretically. At first, the heating effects of bio-tissues and tissue-phantom induced by ultrasound and enhanced by laser are measured experimentally. The heating processes induced by attenuations of focused ultrasonic waves and cavitation effects of the focused ultrasound and combined laser are analyzed theoretically. By analyzing the mechanisms of these effects, it is found that the laser nucleation makes the cavitation bubble generation more easily, which can effectively enhance the ultrasonic cavitation effects, and then enhance the thermal effects of the samples. On the other hand, to evaluate quantitatively the heating processes induced by the focused ultrasound and enhanced by the pulsed laser, by fitting the theoretical calculations to the experimental results, the corresponding cavitation bubbles and rising temperatures induced by the focused ultrasound with and without laser can be estimated approximately.     

Ultrasound measurements of cavitation bubble radius for femtosecond laser-induced breakdown in water

A recently developed ultrasound technique is evaluated by measuring the behavior of a cavitation bubble that is induced in water by a femtosecond laser pulse. The passive acoustic emission during optical breakdown is used to estimate the location of the cavitation bubble's origin. In turn, the position of the bubble wall is defined based on the active ultrasonic pulse-echo signal. The results suggest that the developed ultrasound technique can be used for quantitative measurements of femtosecond laser-induced microbubbles.     

Monitoring of transient cavitation induced by ultrasound and intense pulsed light in presence of gold nanoparticles

One of the most important challenges in medical treatment is invention of a minimally invasive approach in order to induce lethal damages to cancer cells. Application of high intensity focused ultrasound can be beneficial to achieve this goal via the cavitation process. Existence of the particles and vapor in a liquid decreases the ultrasonic intensity threshold required for cavitation onset. In this study, synergism of intense pulsed light (IPL) and gold nanoparticles (GNPs) has been investigated as a means of providing nucleation sites for acoustic cavitation. Several approaches have been reported with the aim of cavitation monitoring. We conducted the experiments on the basis of sonochemiluminescence (SCL) and chemical dosimetric methods. The acoustic cavitation activity was investigated by determining the integrated SCL signal acquired over polyacrylamide gel phantoms containing luminol in the presence and absence of GNPs in the wavelength range of 400–500 nm using a spectrometer equipped with cooled charged coupled devices (CCD) during irradiation by different intensities of 1 MHz ultrasound and IPL pulses. In order to confirm these results, the terephthalic acid chemical dosimeter was utilized as well. The SCL signal recorded in the gel phantoms containing GNPs at different intensities of ultrasound in the presence of intense pulsed light was higher than the gel phantoms without GNPs. These results have been confirmed by the obtained data from the chemical dosimetry method. Acoustic cavitation in the presence of GNPs and intense pulsed light has been suggested as a new approach designed for decreasing threshold intensity of acoustic cavitation and improving targeted therapeutic effects.     

Thresholds for cavitation produced in water by pulsed ultrasound

The threshold for transient cavitation produced in water by pulsed ultrasound was measured as a function of pulse duration and pulse repetition frequency at both 0.98 and 2.30 MHz. The cavitation events were detected with a passive acoustic technique which relies upon the scattering of the irradiation field by the bubble clouds associated with the events. The results indicate that the threshold is independent of pulse duration and acoustic frequency for pulses longer than approximately 10 acoustic cycles. The threshold increases for shorter pulses. The cavitation events are likely to be associated with bubble clouds rather than single bubbles.     

Sound generation in the atmosphere upon exposure to high-power milli- and microsecond laser pulses

A review of works on generation of acoustic pulses in the atmosphere upon exposure to high-power laser pulses is presented in this paper. Characteristics of sound pulses in the atmosphere accompanying the propagation of high-power milli- and microsecond laser pulses, including the peak sound pressure level and the shape and spectrum of acoustic pulses, are discussed. The special features of acoustic pulses from individual liquid and solid aerosol particles and ensembles of monodisperse particles and polydisperse atmospheric aerosol are discussed. The characteristics of acoustic signals from long laser sparks and collective optical discharges are considered.     

Efficient anti-Stokes generation through phase-matched four-wave mixing in higher-order modes of a microstructure fiber

Phase-matched four-wave mixing in higher-order modes of microstructure fibers allows unprecedentedly high efficiencies of anti-Stokes frequency conversion to be achieved for subnanojoule femtosecond laser pulses. 70-fs pulses of 790-nm radiation were used to generate an anti-Stokes component at 520-530 nm in a higher-order mode of a microstructure fiber with a 4.8-microm core. The maximum ratio of the anti-Stokes signal energy to the energy of the pump component in the output spectrum is estimated as 1.7.     

Diffraction of pulsed laser radiation from an acoustic wave with frequency- and phase-shift keying

Bragg acoustooptic diffraction of nanosecond pulsed laser radiation from a frequency- and/or phase-keyed acoustic wave is studied experimentally and theoretically for exact synchronization of laser pulses and signal keying. It is shown that the diffraction field for short pulses is practically stationary and is determined by the positions of acoustic signal keying over signal aperture. The application of this type of signals for the formation of a multibeam diffraction pulsed radiation field is considered. A method is proposed for transforming the angular spectrum of laser radiation intensity from the initial Gaussian to a nearly rectangular spectrum. This may considerably increase the efficiency of high-power technological lasers used in material processing (laser cutting, welding, engraving, etc.), in which the action of radiation is of the thresh-old type in light intensity. The possibility of correcting the angular intensity distribution for a pulsed fiber laser, which increases the thermal efficiency of radiation from such a laser, is established experimentally.