E. B. Sokolova

Spectral characteristics of the femtosecond laser plasma induced on the surface of sea water

Characteristic decay times of continuum and emission doublet intensities (MgII 279.6 and 280.3, CaII 393.4 and 396.8, NaI 589 and 589.6 nm) are presented. Measurements were carried out for plasma induced by a 42-fs laser pulse within a time interval of 0–85 ns. It is shown that the NaI doublet intensity is described by a monoexponential dependence throughout the whole observation time interval. Using the triple recombination coefficient, the electron density has been estimated to vary from 3.0 × 1016 to 2.4 × 1015 cm−3. The validity of the local thermodynamic equilibrium criterion and the dependence of the line intensity-to-background ratio on the delay time are studied.

Angular diagram of broadband emission of millimeter-sized water droplets exposed to gigawatt femtosecond laser pulses

We report on the experiments on the interaction of gigawatt femtosecond laser pulses with suspended millimeter-sized water droplets. The transparent droplets experienced laser-induced breakdown and explosive boiling up and emitted a broadband radiation. This radiation covers the spectral range from 450 to 1100 nm and consists of the spectrum of laser pulse scattered and transformed by the droplet due to self-phase modulation and plasma emission produced in water during photoionization. The droplet emission spectrum showed remarkable broadening at all viewing angles and is maximal in the direction of the laser exit from the droplet. The enlargement of the droplet results in additional spectral spreading of the emitted radiation. The depth and amount of laser pulse spectral self-transformations upon propagation through the water droplet are simulated by means of numerical calculations.

Multiple filamentation of collimated laser radiation in water and glass

Results of an experimental study of spatial parameters of the region of multiple filamentation of gigaand terawatt pulses of a Ti:Sapphire laser in glass and water are described. The pulse-power dependencies of the coordinates of the filamentation region, the number of filaments, their distribution along the laser beam axis, and the mean length of the filaments are presented. It is shown that the spatial parameters of the filamentation region are qualitatively similar in water and glass. It is found that the number of filaments along the region of multiple filamentation is a unimodal distribution. When increasing the radiation power, the length of individual filaments in the region of multiple filamentation is reduced, and their diameters are quasi-constant at all power values implemented in the experiment. When attaining a certain power of laser pulses with a Gaussian energy-density distribution, the filamentation region takes the shape of a hollow cone with the apex directed to the radiation source.

Filamentation of femtosecond Ti:Sapphire laser pulses at the first and second harmonics in liquid media

The experimental results on transformation of the spectral and spatial characteristics of femtosecond Ti:Sapphire-laser pulses with wavelengths of 800 and 400 nm during filamentation in liquid media are presented. It is shown that spectral broadening of a laser pulse at both harmonics at the expense of phase self-modulation in a medium with cubic nonlinearity depends on pulse power and beam diameter. Emission with a maximum at 464 nm is observed during filamentation of the pulses with a wavelength of 400 nm in distilled water, which corresponds to stimulated Raman scattering of the water. Fluorescence of dissolved organic matter is observed in sea water.

Multiple filamentation of collimated Ti:Sapphire laser beams in water

The results of experimental studies of femtosecond laser pulse filamentation in water are described. The dependencies of the number of filaments, spectrum width, distance of nonlinear focusing, and diameter of filamentation zone on the laser pulse power are measured. Existence of a segment on the scale of relative power is marked out, where the number of filaments increases dramatically.

Interaction of femtosecond pulses of a two-harmonic Ti:Sapphire laser with liquid media

The interaction of ultrashort laser pulses having wavelengths of 400 and 800 nm with liquid media, including organic solutions, has been experimentally studied. It is shown that transparent drops evaporate and boil (with partial mass ejection in the form of vapor and liquid fragments) in the field of ultrashort light pulse. A large-scale change in the spectrum of laser pulse during its interaction with a water particle is revealed. This change is caused by self-modulation of the light phase due to the Kerr optical nonlinearity of liquid and the formation of plasma. Filamentation in continuous liquid media is analyzed; specifically, the dependences of the number of filaments, the lasing spectrum width, the nonlinear-focusing distance, and the filamentation region diameter on the laser pulse power are measured. It is noted that there is a range of relative powers where the number of filaments very rapidly increases. It is shown that the spectral broadening at filamentation, observed for fixed pulse energy with a change in pulse width, overlaps the entire visible spectral range. This circumstance makes it possible to obtain width-tunable pulses and use them, e.g., in optoacoustic diagnostics of media.

Change of seawater fluorescence properties when mixing with crude oil

The fluorescence features of seawater with dissolved crude oil components during continuous 13-day mixing of water and oil are considered. Four specific fluorescence peaks are identified. Two of them are connected with polyaromatic hydrocarbons, and two other peaks, with high-molecular organic compounds. It is shown that the fluorescence spectrum of dissolved components of crude oil is not constant. Spectral features suitable for identification of dissolved crude oil in seawater are distinguished.

Localized High-Intensity Light Structures during Multiple Filamentation of Ti:Sapphire-Laser Femtosecond Pulses along an Air Path

The results of experimental studies of the transverse structure of a laser beam after multiple filamentation are presented. A ring structure of radiation is formed around individual filaments in a beam cross section inside the multiple filamentation domain, and at a dozen meters from it a common ring structure starts forming surrounding postfilamentation light channels (PFC). It is shown that the spectra of the PFC, rings, and beam are significantly different. The ring spectrum broadens asymmetrically relative to the carrier wavelength and is mainly concentrated in the short wavelength region. The PFC spectrum has a significant and more symmetrical broadening and covers the range 630–1000 nm.

Determination of the chlorophyll a concentration by MODIS-Aqua and VIIRS satellite radiometers in Eastern Arctic and Bering Sea

The waters of the Bering and Chukchi seas, as well as the De Long Strait, are investigated based on the data obtained in August 2013 during the scientific expedition of the Far Eastern Floating University on the research vessel Professor Khlyustin. Chlorophyll a concentrations calculated from MODIS-Aqua and VIIRS satellite data by ocean color and obtained by means of shipboard flow-through fluorometric measurements are comparatively analyzed. Vessel data are corrected for standard spectrophotometric measurements and the vertical depth distribution of phytoplankton. It has been found that, in the waters of the Eastern Arctic, satellite radiometers showed overestimated chlorophyll a concentrations in the upper seawater layer visible from the satellite. This is associated with the additional contribution of colored dissolved organic matter in the sea surface color. In the De Long Strait, satellite measurements incorrectly estimate the depth integrated chlorophyll a concentration, since the bulk of phytoplankton cells at a chlorophyll a concentration of 10–20 g/L is at depths of 25–30 m with luminosity of 5%.

Multiple filamentation Ti:Sapphire-laser pulses in water

The results of experimental studies of the spatial characteristics of multiple filamentation terawatt femtosecond Ti:Salaser in water are presented. With an increase in initial power laser pulses increases the number of filaments, the length of the field is increased filamentation and reducing the length of the filaments have been shown. The distribution of the filaments in the longitudinal direction of the field of multiple filamentation has a maximum cross-sectional filament is shifted from the center to the periphery of the beam at the end region of filamentation. The minimum diameter of the beam on the track corresponds to the position of the maximum number of filaments. After the point of maximum impulse essentially loses energy in the initial direction of propagation. Upon reaching the pulse power 2 104 Pcr of multiple filamentation area is formed of a hollow cone, the apex directed to the radiation source.