Researchers from Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, in collaboration with scientists from Indian Institute of Science Bangalore and University of Lübeck, Germany, have developed a predictive framework that enables precise control over the propulsion and breakup of liquid droplets using laser pulses.

The findings, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, provide new insights into laser–matter interactions and may support advancements in targeted drug delivery, inkjet printing, laser-assisted manufacturing, and biomedical engineering applications.

The study demonstrates that microscopic liquid droplets can be directed forward, backward, or radially outward by adjusting the droplet’s position relative to the laser focus and tuning the laser pulse energy. 

Researchers also identified that the location of the initial laser-induced plasma formation plays a critical role in determining droplet deformation, fragmentation, and propulsion behaviour.

“We have long been fascinated by the complex physics that emerge when high-power lasers interact with fluids and soft matter,” said Dr. D. Chaitanya Kumar Rao. “This work builds on those foundations and takes an important step toward achieving deterministic control over laser-driven droplet behavior.”

The paper, titled “Predicting and controlling laser-induced breakup and multidirectional propulsion of liquid droplets,”was authored by Awanish Pratap Singh, Dr. D. Chaitanya Kumar Rao, Maik Rahlves, Alfred Vogel, and Saptarshi Basu.

The research paper is available on the PNAS website.