Spectroscopic Analysis of Stimulated Raman Scattering in the Early Stage of Laser-Induced Breakdown in Water

Hiroharu Yui; Yoshinori Yoneda; Takehiko Kitamori; Tsuguo Sawada

doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.82.4110

Spectroscopic Analysis of Stimulated Raman Scattering in the Early Stage of Laser-Induced Breakdown in Water

Hiroharu Yui, Yoshinori Yoneda, Takehiko Kitamori, and Tsuguo Sawada

Phys. Rev. Lett. 82, 4110 – Published 17 May 1999

Abstract

We have investigated laser-induced breakdown (LIB) in water by measuring stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) induced in the early stage of the LIB phenomenon. The SRS is emitted before the breakdown plasma continuum emission becomes dominant and lasts about 80 picoseconds. The time-resolved spectra of the SRS indicate that ice VII structure is formed partially and inhomogeneously in the focal volume of the exciting beam on a picosecond time scale. The mechanism of the SRS inducement is also discussed.