Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 8, 2026

Investigation of Early Plasma Evolution Induced by Ultrashort Laser Pulses
Published on: July 2, 2012
Energy absorption and propagation in laser-created sparks
C V Bindhu1, S S Harilal, M S Tillack
1Center for Energy Research, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093-0438, USA.
Abstract:
The energy absorption and laser propagation characteristics of air and argon sparks at one atmosphere have been investigated. To create the sparks, 532 nm pulses from a frequency doubled Q-switched Nd : YAG laser are used. We employed 2 ns gated fast photography for studying the time evolution of the kernel at early times. Optical emission spectroscopy is used to infer temperature and density of the sparks. Significant energy absorption by the plasma is observed just above the breakdown threshold. The energy absorption and propagation in the spark indicated that argon plasma is more absorptive than air plasma. The absorption of the spark increases with laser energy, and at higher energies absorption saturation is observed. A spiky behavior is observed in the transmitted temporal profiles of lasers at higher energies and this is explained as due to the formation of a self-regulating regime.
More Related Videos
09:40Measurement and Analysis of Atomic Hydrogen and Diatomic Molecular AlO, C2, CN, and TiO Spectra Following Laser-induced Optical Breakdown
Published on: February 14, 2014
08:53Dependence of Laser-induced Breakdown Spectroscopy Results on Pulse Energies and Timing Parameters Using Soil Simulants
Published on: September 23, 2013
Related Concept Videos
Generating Electromagnetic Radiations
Propagation Speed of Electromagnetic Waves
Propagation of Waves
Consider a scenario where a wave propagates from a string of low linear mass density to a string of high linear mass density. In such a case, the reflected wave is out of phase with respect to the incident wave, however the...
Energy Carried By Electromagnetic Waves
Atomic Emission Spectroscopy: Overview
Electromagnetic Waves in Matter
Consider the electromagnetic wave passing through a dielectric medium. In such a case, Maxwell's equations get modified. In Ampere's law, ε0 , the dielectric permittivity of free space is replaced with ε, the permittivity of dielectric. Also, the vacuum permeability μ0 is replaced by the permeability of the medium, μ.
Furthermore, the...