ULTRAFAST FORMATION OF HYDRATED ELECTRONS IN WATER AT HIGH CONCENTRATION: EXPERIMENTAL EVIDENCE OF THE FREE ELECTRON
Palianov P., Martin F., Quere F., Pommeret S.

Received: October 14, 2013

DOI: 10.7868/S0044451014030185

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Using a time-resolved optical interferometric technique, we investigate the ultrafast primary events following the interaction of an ultrashort laser pulse with pure water in the TW/cm² regime. Because our method is sensitive to the quasi-instantaneous electron energy level position, we demonstrate that in contrast to the well-known low-intensity regime, where the free electrons are instantaneously captured by pre-existing traps, in this new regime of excitation, free electrons are clearly observed, exhibiting a substantial contribution in the near IR. The delayed localization is attributed to the saturation of pre-existing cavities in the liquid by the large number of the excited electron states created.