Backward jet propulsion of particles by femtosecond pulses in hollow-core photonic crystal fiber

Maria N. Romodina*, Shangran Xie, Francesco Tani, Philip St J. Russell

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

A dielectric microparticle, optically trapped within an air-filled hollow-core photonic crystal fiber (PCF), is accelerated backwards close to the speed of sound when a single guided femtosecond pulse is incident upon it. Acting as a spherical lens, the particle focuses a fraction of the pulse energy onto its inner rear surface, causing the material to ablate. The resulting plasma and vapor jet act like a rocket motor, driving the particle backward at peak accelerations conservatively estimated at more than a million times gravity. Using counter-propagating pulses to suppress particle motion, the effect may permit the inner core walls to be coated locally with different materials, allowing optical devices to be created at otherwise inaccessible points inside long lengths of hollow-core PCF.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)268-272
Number of pages5
JournalOptica
Volume9
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2022
Externally publishedYes

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