MINIMALLY DISRUPTIVE LASER-INDUCED BREAKDOWN IN WATER

We produce minimally disruptive breakdown in water by using tightly fo cused 100-fs laser pulses and demonstrate the potential use of this te chnique in microsurgery of the eye. Using time-resolved imaging and pi ezoelectric pressure detection, we measure the magnitude and speed of propagation of the pressure wave Compared with breakdown with longer p ulses, here there is a much lower energy threshold for breakdown of 0. 2 mu J, a Smaller shock zone diameter (11 mu m for 1-mu J pulses), and consistent energy deposition. (C) 1997 Optical Society of America.