Features of optical breakdown of aqueous colloidal solutions of ferric oxide (Fe2O3) nanoparticles occurring on individual or on two closely located nanoparticles

Highlight• Optical breakdown in a solution of nanoparticles occurs according to 2 scenarios. • In 78%, breakdown occurs on one nanoparticle (NP), in 22% – on two NPs. • In the case of two NPs, cavitation bubbles with plasma move away from each other at a speed of 3000 m/s. • The motion of flash occurs under the influence of a shock wave from an neighboring breakdown. • Estimated pressure at the shock wave front is 2300 MPa. A streak camera was used to study the dynamics of the development of plasma flashes of the optical breakdown that occurs in aqueous solutions of Fe2O3 nanoparticles. It is shown that optical breakdown can occur according to two scenarios – initiated on single nanoparticle (78%) or on two closely located nanoparticles (22%). When optical breakdown occurs on two nanoparticles, cavitation bubbles move away from each other on 50 μm with velocity of 3000 m/s under the action of shock waves initiated by the optical breakdown on neighboring particles. The estimated pressure at the shock wave front is approximately 2300 MPa.