NONLINEAR REFLECTION AT A DIELECTRIC-CARBON SUSPENSION INTERFACE - MACROSCOPIC THEORY AND EXPERIMENT

We report on a theoretical investigation of the nonlinear reflection t hat has been experimentally observed when Nd:YAG laser pulses interact with a dielectric-carbon particle suspension interface. This interact ion leads to plasma formation, laser induced cavitation, and the forma tion of a vapor layer at the dielectric interface. This vapor layer re sults in total internal reflection. The theoretical fit to the experim ental data shows that the calculated fluence threshold of the plasma f ormation process is 1 J/cm 2. The theory also shows that the formation time of the vapor interface is on the order of a few nanoseconds and depends on the concentration of the carbon particles in the suspension .