Pulsed laser-induced nucleation of sodium chlorate at high energy densities

The dataset consists of measurements of the numbers of crystals of sodium chlorate obtained following pulsed laser induced nucleation. Aqueous sodium chlorate in supersaturated aqueous solutions were irriadated with focused nanosecond laser pulses at high energy densities (420 kJ cm–2). On irradiation with a single laser pulse, optical breakdown was observed in the form of a luminous plasma, and numerous microbubbles were produced. Based on the observations, we estimate the energy threshold for optical breakdown in the solutions to be 70 J cm–2. Remarkably, even at high energy densities, single laser pulses produced on average only one or two crystals. The mean number of crystals obtained was 1.5 (532 nm) and 1.8 (1064 nm) per sample (3 cm3). The effect of left circularly polarized (LCP) and right circularly polarized (RCP) light on the nucleation of dextrorotatory (d) versus levorotatory (l) enantiomorphs of cubic (phase I) sodium chlorate crystals was investigated. No significant correlation between the helicity of circular polarization and the chirality of enantiomorph was observed.