Mechanism of channel propagation in water by pulsed erbium laser radiation

摘要

The channel propagation in liquid water caused by Er$+3$PLU$/:YAG laser radiation at a wavelength of 2.94 $mu@m is investigated experimentally and compared to a theoretical model. The propagation velocity of the phase front is measured with the beam delivered to the open water surface as well as with a fiber submersed in the water. For laser intensities up to 4 MW/cm$+2$/ the results agree with model calculation. We suggest that the hydrodynamic behavior of water is a key feature for the propagation mechanism.