Laser-induced bubble generation on a gold nanoparticle: A nonsymmetrical description

The modeling of bubbles initiated by laser-irradiated nanoparticles is of interest for many applications. There is at present no comprehensive physical picture for all the stages of the process. We present an alternative approach with a key assumption: the vapor bubble evolves adjacent to the nanoparticle. To take into account the irreversible evolution, the statistical rate theory was used, thus avoiding the introduction of extra ad hoc parameters. Model results agree well with published data and our measurements. The only free parameter, the thermal boundary conductance, can be obtained by adjusting the model to the experimental data.

Figure 1

Top: pictorial NB time evolution. Black disk, GNP; gray circle, NB. The pictures show the relative sizes of the NP and the NB. Bottom: time evolution of the NB radius (solid), $T_p$ (dashed), and laser intensity (dotted). $G=180\mathrm{MW}/{\mathrm{m}}^2\mathrm{K}, R_P=6.65\mathrm{nm}, F=5\mathrm{kJ}/{\mathrm{m}}^2, \tau =4.8\mathrm{ns}$.

Figure 2

NB radius vs fluence. Solid line, calculated; black dots, data from [20].

Figure 3

Sensor output (normalized to $F=10F_c$) vs fluence (normalized to $F_c$). Solid line, calculated; squares, measured; normalization values, $J_{\mathrm{model}}=28.5\mathrm{Pa}\mathrm{s}, J_{\mathrm{measured}}=12.9\mathrm{Pa}\mathrm{s}$.