Cavitation phenomena and formation of tracks in aqueous solutions of alcohol and acetone under the influence of the laser radiation

An investigation was made of the formation of bubble tracks in aqueous solutions of alcohol and acetone under the influence of laser radiation below the breakdown threshold. It was found that bubbles were formed by a shock wave caused by electrostriction and that the contribution of thermal effects was unimportant. The low mechanical strength of the solutions was attributed to the phase transitions which altered the structure of water.