Temporal evolution of condensation and precipitation induced by a 22-TW laser.

Water condensation and precipitation induced by 22-TW 800-nm laser pulses at 1 Hz in an open cloud chamber were investigated in a time-resolved manner. Two parts of precipitation in two independent periods of time were observed directly following each laser shot. One part started around the filament zone at t < 500 mu s and ended at t congruent to 1.5 ms after the arrival of the femtosecond laser pulse. The other following the laser-induced energetic air motion (turbulence), started at t congruent to 20 ms and ended at t congruent to 120 ms. Meanwhile, the phase transitions of large-size condensation droplets with diameters of 400-500 mu m from liquid to solid (ice) in a cold area (T < -30 degrees C) were captured at t congruent to 20 ms. (c) 2018 Optical Society of America under the terms of the OSA Open Access Publishing Agreement