Laser acceleration of absorbing particles.

Area of Science:

• Physics
• Materials Science
• Laser Technology

Background:

• Laser-induced particle manipulation is crucial for various applications.
• Understanding particle behavior under intense laser irradiation requires advanced modeling.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the acceleration and evaporation of absorbing particles using a Ytterbium-doped fiber laser.
• To develop and validate a comprehensive model for laser-heated particle dynamics.

Main Methods:

• Illuminating stainless steel particles with optical intensities of 1-2 MW/cm².
• Utilizing direct imaging with a high-speed camera for position measurements.
• Developing a system of coupled differential equations to model particle properties and trajectory.

Main Results:

• Particles were accelerated to tens of meters per second and evaporated within milliseconds.
• The developed model accurately predicted particle trajectories and lifetimes.
• Radiation diffusion was identified as the dominant heat transfer mechanism within the evaporating particles.

Conclusions:

• Yb-doped fiber lasers can effectively accelerate and evaporate absorbing particles.
• The developed model provides a robust framework for understanding laser-particle interactions.
• The dominance of radiation diffusion highlights unique heat transfer phenomena in laser-induced particle evaporation.