Investigation on the Stability of Capillary Waterjet as the Optical Waveguide Influenced by Cavitation

Waterjet guided laser processing is technology using laminar waterjet as optical waveguide to process materials. The stability of capillary waterjet as the optical waveguide is investigated with the effects of cavitation. Combined with the fluid interface tracking method and the cavitation model, a numerical simulation model of water jet is established. The inlet pressure ranges from 0Mpa to 5Mpa. The hydraulic flip and cavitation effect lead to a constricted water jet which is produced by sharp edges orifices. The theory of constricted laminar water jet with long breakup length theoretically can be used as optical waveguide is based on total reflection.