Toward a Microscopic Study of Laser Interactions with Levitated Liquid Fuel Droplets

摘要

Progress toward experimental investigation of the interaction between Q-switched Nd:YAG laser pulses and single levitated liquid fuel droplets is presented. Precise positioning of the droplet relative to the laser focal volume is demonstrated by trapping and levitating droplets in a double-ring electrodynamic balance, also known as a Paul or ion trap. The design and performance of the double-ring balance and an inkjet droplet injector are discussed. Trap parameters C_0 and C_1 are obtained from Poisson equation solutions and stability measurements using the springpoint technique. Droplet sizes are derived to 2% precision by comparing measurements and modeling of the droplet's near-field diffraction pattern.