Calculation of the Threshold Power of Optical Breakdown during Interaction between a Laser Pulse and Droplets of Dielectric Liquid

A mathematical model is developed of optical breakdown on droplets of dielectric liquid under the effect of pulsed laser radiation. The heating and evaporation of a particle, and the generation of a vapor halo and its ionization, as well as the propagation of shock waves in the space surrounding the particle, are treated as separate stages of the process. The threshold characteristics of the laser beam parameters are determined, which are sufficient for the initiation of optical breakdown on droplets of dielectric liquid. The dependence of the threshold power of optical breakdown on the size of laser spot is calculated.