Laser-induced capillary effect in thin layers of water-alcohol mixtures.

The effect of droplet formation in thin layers of water-alcohol mixtures upon laser heating was studied. The droplet growth in the laser beam is governed by the surface tension gradient, which induces solutocapillary flows from the periphery to the center of the heated area. This gradient arises due to the local increase in surface tension caused by the evaporation of alcohol from the heated area of the layer.