Manipulation of micro-bubbles in water by CW laser

A method is described for the generation of micrometer-sized vapor-gas bubbles in a water suspension containing absorptive pigment nanoparticles. The diluted suspension absorbs the continuous laser radiation (wavelength 808 nm), and each particle in the best illuminated volume serves a bubble-nucleation center. The bubbles can stably exist within or near the illuminated area where their location is governed by the competition between thermal and optical forces and can be controlled via the laser beam parameters. The method enables controllable creation, support, prescribed transportation and destruction of the bubbles.