On two optomechanical effects of laser-induced electrostriction in dielectric liquids

TL;DR

This paper explores electrostriction effects in dielectric liquids caused by laser interaction, highlighting two mechanical effects, experimental detection conditions, and implications for laser-induced phenomena.

Contribution

It provides a phenomenological analysis of electrostriction in dielectric liquids and details experimental conditions for observing laser-induced mechanical effects.

Findings

Electrostriction causes tensile stresses and acoustic waves in dielectric liquids.

Detection of electrostriction is feasible in water but not in castor oil.

The study informs measurement techniques and understanding of laser-induced cavitation.

Abstract

This paper presents electrostriction from the phenomenological perspective, and gives details on two mechanical effects arising from laser-matter interaction. Electrostriction is the tendency of materials to compress in the presence of a varying electric field. In this paper, the investigated materials are polar and nonpolar dielectric liquids. It is stressed that the dominant factor is the time evolution of the laser pulse, which causes tensile stresses and acoustic waves. The study is supported by experimental realization of electrostriction, which can be detected only at favourable conditions (observed in water, but not in castor oil). This study will shed light in developing measurement techniques (e.g., laser-induced grating spectroscopy) and in explaining the onset of cavities and laser-induced liquid breakdown.