title: Femtosecond-laser-induced nanocavitation in water: implications for optical breakdown threshold and cell surgery.
abstract: We determined the bubble radius R_(max) for femtosecond optical breakdown in water at 347, 520, and 1040 nm with an unprecedented accuracy (+/-10 nm). At threshold, R_(max) was smaller than the diffraction-limited focus radius and ranged from 190 nm to 320 nm. The increase of R_(max) with laser energy E_(L) is slowest at 347 nm, providing optimum control of cell surgery. Experimental results agree with a model of bubble formation in heated and thermoelastically stretched liquids. Theory predicts a threshold temperature T_(th) approximately equal to 168 degrees C. For T>300 degrees C, a phase explosion sets in, and R_(max) increases rapidly with E_(L).
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biomedical Optics, University of Lübeck, Peter-Monnik-Weg 4, Lübeck, Germany. vogel@bmo.uni-luebeck.de
authors.forename: Alfred
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vogel
authors.forename: Norbert
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Linz
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Freidank
authors.forename: Günther
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Paltauf
mesh_terms: D007834:Lasers; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D013347:Subcellular Fractions / Q000737:chemistry*; D013816:Thermodynamics; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D014867:Water