Laser Induced Thermal Diffusion Shock Waves

When two phase coherent laser beams are crossed at an
angle, the electric fields of
the beams produce a sinusoidal interference pattern.
Partial absorption of the electric
fields in a colloidal sample creates a sinusoidal
temperature field. The temperature
gradient then causes production of concentration
gradient in the sample, known as
the Ludwig-Soret effect or thermal diffusion.
Solutions to nonlinear partial differential
equations that describe the effect show that shock
waves analogous to fluid
shock waves are produced. A mathematical relation
between the shock speed and the
density fraction of one component, analogous to the
well-known Rankine-Hugoniot
equations, is derived. Self-diffraction and imaging
experiments show shock-like behavior
in colloidal systems governed by the thermal
diffusion.

Autorentext

Sorasak Danworaphong, Ph.D., Studied Physics at Brown University.
Currently, a lecturer at School of Science, Walailak University,
Thailand.

Klappentext

When two phase coherent laser beams are crossed at an
angle, the electric fields of
the beams produce a sinusoidal interference pattern.
Partial absorption of the electric
fields in a colloidal sample creates a sinusoidal
temperature field. The temperature
gradient then causes production of concentration
gradient in the sample, known as
the Ludwig-Soret effect or thermal diffusion.
Solutions to nonlinear partial differential
equations that describe the effect show that shock
waves analogous to fluid
shock waves are produced. A mathematical relation
between the shock speed and the
density fraction of one component, analogous to the
well-known Rankine-Hugoniot
equations, is derived. Self-diffraction and imaging
experiments show shock-like behavior
in colloidal systems governed by the thermal
diffusion.