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Shaping and Controlled Fragmentation of Liquid Metal Droplets through Cavitation
M S Krivokorytov1,2, Q Zeng3, B V Lakatosh1
1Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (State University), Institutskiy pereulok str. 9, Dolgoprudny, Moscow region, 141701, Russia.
Scientific Reports
|January 14, 2018
Summary
Laser pulses create acoustic waves in metal droplets, causing cavitation and jetting. This research controls liquid metal droplet shaping for extreme-UV light sources.
Area of Science:
- Physics
- Materials Science
- Acoustics
Background:
- Micrometer-sized metal droplets are crucial for applications like extreme-UV light sources.
- Controlling droplet fragmentation and shaping is essential for optimizing these applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the fragmentation dynamics of liquid metal droplets.
- To understand the role of laser-induced acoustic waves and cavitation.
- To develop methods for controlling droplet shaping and jetting.
Main Methods:
- Targeting metal droplets with near-infrared sub-picosecond laser pulses.
- Analyzing stress-confined acoustic wave generation and propagation.
- Coupling cavitation bubble dynamics with Rayleigh-Taylor instabilities.
- Predicting jetting behavior as a function of laser energy.
Main Results:
- Intense stress-confined acoustic waves are generated within the droplets.
- Spherical focusing amplifies acoustic pressures, leading to cavitation nucleation.
- Explosive cavitation expansion results in repeatable fragmentation and high-speed jetting.
- The number of jets is predictable based on laser energy.
Conclusions:
- Laser-induced cavitation provides a controllable mechanism for droplet fragmentation.
- This method enables precise control over liquid metal droplet shaping.
- The findings offer a pathway for optimizing liquid metal targets in extreme-UV light sources.
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