Contactless Transfer of an Angular Momentum to a Liquid Layer Using a Scanning Laser Beam

Abstract

The contactless transfer of an angular momentum to a liquid layer using a scanning laser beam has been experimentally investigated. This effect is observed for a glassy carbon target placed in water and irradiated by a pulsed laser beam, scanning the target along a closed trajectory. The target rotates in the same direction as the laser beam if the water layer is thin and in the opposite direction in the case of thick water layer. The possibility of transferring an angular momentum to liquid in the absence of target is demonstrated. The effect observed is interpreted as the result of joint action of convective flows and thermocapillary convection, which are induced in the liquid by laser heating.