Dynamics of the explosive evaporation of water drops in the field of optical radiation

An experimental investigation was made of the explosive evaporation of drops of water and aqueous solutions, 300–500 μ in diameter, as a result of their heating by the field of optical radiation. It was found that such explosive heating produced droplets, 10–20 μ in diameter, which flew apart at a velocity of several tens of centimeters per second. The preferred direction of flight of these droplets was along the incident light beam.