Response of ∼100 micron water jets to intense nanosecond laser blasts

We performed an experimental study on water microjets of 100 microns in radius ablated in air by both green (532 nm) and near infrared (1064 nm) nanosecond laser pulses with up to 1100 mJ per pulse. We show this affordable and accessible experimental apparatus captures the essence of the water jet response after being ablated by an intense laser pulse. The results reveal that ∼3.5% of laser pulse energy enters the water jet and half reaches the nozzle orifice as far as 50 times the jet diameter away from the ablation point through internal reflections. The energy density absorbed by the nozzle orifice exceeds the damage threshold of stainless steel, causing microexplosions and formation of a liquid sheet near the nozzle orifice.