Abstract
The paper reports in production of underwater micro shock waves by direct irradiation of pulse laser beam. Energy source was a Q-switched Ho : YAG laser with 90 mJ/Pulse energy measured at the end of a 0.60mm diameter glass optical fiber. The generation and propagation of underwater shock waves from the optical fiber were quantitatively visualized by double exposure holographic interferometry. Sequential flow visualization revealed that plasma generated by the laser beam, drove spherical shock waves in water. Heat induced flow in front of the fiber vanished after 100 ms. The weak shock waves produced by this method have potential to be applied for precise medical procedures such as revascularization in neurosurgery.
