Our Article Published in PNAS

We are pleased to share that our latest research article has been published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

A nanosecond laser pulse can propel a microscopic droplet, but not always in the same direction. Our study demonstrates that the droplet’s response depends critically on its position relative to the laser focus and the pulse energy. These factors determine where the initial plasma spark forms in or near the droplet, and whether subsequent sparks occur.

As a result, the droplet may move forward, recoil backward in a jellyfish-like shape, or disintegrate outward in a butterfly-like pattern. By combining high-speed imaging with optical modeling and fluid dynamics simulations, we systematically mapped the conditions leading to each of these behaviors.

This framework provides new insights into controlling laser–droplet interactions and has potential applications in microfluidics, precision manufacturing, targeted delivery, laser-induced forward transfer, and related biomedical and photonic technologies.

We congratulate Awanish and Chaitanya for their excellent work and thank Prof. Alfred Vogel and Prof. Rahlves for the valuable collaboration.

Visit - https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2526933123