Laser interaction on water-perspex boundary

When a phi-switched Nd:YAG laser is focused on water-perspex boundary, a breakdown associated with the formation of a plasma occurs. The appearance of this phenomena has been recorded using ultra-high speed photography, the event being illuminated by a dye laser. The measurement of the changes of parameters through the shock region were visualized by using shadowgraph and interferometry techniques which were saved in video system and analyzed using computer programs. The longitudinal, shear and Rayleigh (Stoneley) waves were generated as a result of the interaction of the focused laser with the water-perspex boundary. These waves were identified by their velocities. (author)