Laser-induced cavitation and jetting in thin films

Laser-induced cavitation has a wide range of applications, ranging from needle-free injection to the 3D printing of flexible electronics and biomaterials. We investigate laser-induced cavitation in Newtonian films with a thickness on the order of the size of the cavitation bubble, where the bubble interacts with both the solid and the free surface. We experimentally study the dynamics of the bubble and the free surface, using high-speed imaging. In particular, we visualize the simultaneous interaction of the expanding and collapsing bubble with the free surface and the solid boundary. We further use boundary integral simulations to model the problem.