Minimally disruptive laser-induced breakdown in water

We produce minimally disruptive breakdown in water by using tightly focused 100-fs laser pulses and demonstrate the potential use of this technique in microsurgery of the eye. Using time-resolved imaging and piezoelectric pressure detection, we measure the magnitude and speed of propagation of the pressure wave Compared with breakdown with longer pulses, 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.