Optical breakdown in air induced by aerosol water droplets

Experimental results are presented on laser-radiation breakdown in air induced by aerosol water droplets. It is shown that, for specified parameters of the laser radiation, the redistribution of this radiation inside weakly absorbing droplets leads to the appearance of high-pressure breakdown regions in the droplets. These high-pressure regions facilitate the fragmentation of the droplets and the formation of an intense shock wave in the air surrounding the droplet. This shock wave induces the development in the air of an optically active plasma propagating in the laser-detonation regime.