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Updated: Jun 12, 2026

Measurement and Analysis of Atomic Hydrogen and Diatomic Molecular AlO, C2, CN, and TiO Spectra Following Laser-induced Optical Breakdown
Published on: February 14, 2014
Role of dissolved gas in optical breakdown of water: differences between effects due to helium and other gases
N F Bunkin1, B W Ninham, V A Babenko
1A.M. Prokhorov General Physics Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Vavilova, 38, 119991, Moscow, Russia. nbunkin@kapella.gpi.ru
Abstract:
It is shown that water contains defects in the form of heterogeneous optical breakdown centers. Long-living complexes composed of gas and liquid molecules may serve as nuclei for such centers. A new technique for removing dissolved gas from water is developed. It is based on a "helium washing" routine. The structure of helium-washed water is very different from that of water containing dissolved atmospheric gas. It is able to withstand higher optical intensities and temperatures of superheating compared with the nonprocessed ones. The characteristics of plasma spark and values of the breakdown thresholds for processed and nonprocessed samples are given.
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