A plasma in water

The photograph represents the reflection of a laser beam on a fine point, itself positioned on the sample to be studied. Thanks to this experimental technique, called 'nano-Raman', it is possible to study nanoobjects, such as carbon nanotubes, as well as semiconductor nanostructures that are the basis of modern electronics (computers, telephony, etc.). The typical dimensions of the objects belonging to this 'nanoworld' are only a few nanometers, i.e. ten thousand times smaller than the thickness of a hair.