We show how the deposition of laser energy induces propulsion and strong
deformation of an absorbing liquid body. Combining high speed with stroboscopic
imaging, we observe that a millimeter-sized dyed water drop hit by a millijoule
nanosecond laser pulse propels forward at several meters per second and deforms
until it eventually fragments. The drop motion results from the recoil momentum
imparted at the drop surface by water vaporization. We measure the propulsion
speed and the time-deformation law of the drop, complemented by
boundary-integral simulations. The drop propulsion and shaping are explained in
terms of the laser-pulse energy, the drop size, and the liquid properties.
These findings are, for instance, crucial for the generation of extreme
ultraviolet light in nanolithography machines.Comment: Submitted as research article to Physical Review Applied, 6 pages
with 6 figure