Optical vaporisation system for an electronic cigarette

An electronic cigarette includes a laser and a light guide. A reservoir is provided for storing a vaporisable liquid. An absorber is provided to absorb light emitted by the laser and to generate heat. An optical interface is provided at a second end face of the light guide, and a flow path is provided for vaporisable liquid to flow from the reservoir towards the optical interface at the second end face and the absorber. The optical interface selectively reflects or refracts light emitted by the laser such that light emitted by the laser is coupled towards the absorber when liquid is present at the optical interface and light emitted by the laser is coupled away from the absorber when liquid is not present at the optical interface.