Low-density plasmas below the optical breakdown threshold-Potential hazard for multiphoton microscopy, and a tool for the manipulation of intracellular events

The chemical, thermal, and thermomechanical effects produced by the low density plasmas were investigated and the consequences for multiphoton microscopy was also studied. A rate equation model was used considering multiphoton ionization and avalanche ionization to numerically simulate the plasma formation. The results of the temperature calculations yielded the starting point for calculations of the thermoelastic stresses that were generated during the formation of the low-density plasmas. The low-density plasmas below the optical breakdown threshold was found to be a versatile tool for the manipulation of transparent biological media and other transparent materials.