Thermoactivated cavitation induced in water by low power, continuous wave thulium-doped fiber laser

We demonstrate that by focusing in pure water the light of a CW thulium doped fiber laser tuned at a wavelength close to the 1950 nm absorption line of the water and with power of few hundreds of milliwatts, a thermoactivated cavitation bubble formation is obtained. On collapse, a strong ultrasound wave is observed. This effect can be potentially useful for biomedical applications.