Lasing and stimulated Raman scattering in spherical liquid droplets: time, irradiance, and wavelength dependence

Measurement of lasing from dye doped micron sized ethanol droplets irradiated by a pulsed Nd:YAG laser shows evidence of lifetime broadening and relaxation oscillations. Observations of stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) and lasing generated by the same laser pulse in a dye doped ethanol droplet and coupled to the same morphology dependent resonance exhibit longer delays in the initiation of SRS than for pure ethanol droplets where lasing is absent. SRS emission above the plasma breakdown threshold is not measurably delayed and is quenched by the developing plasma.