Interaction of laser radiation with matter. Laser plasma

Dynamics of the vapor breakdown plasma accompanying the irradiation of metals by cw CO₂ laser radiation

A. E. Zaĭkin, A. V. Levin, A. L. Petrov


Abstract: An experimental investigation was made of the dynamics of the vapor breakdown plasma formed from a metal (low-carbon steel) during irradiation by a 500-W cw СО₂ laser in the intensity range 2–4.5 MW/cm². The plasma behaved in a self-oscillatory manner. The breakdown plasma was found to be inhomogeneous within one self-oscillations period and it consisted of a system of striations parallel to the metal surface. A qualitative explanation of this phenomenon is presented.

UDC: 621.373.826.038.823:533.9

PACS: 42.55.Lt, 42.60.Pk, 52.50.Jm, 61.80.Ba, 61.82.Bg

Received: 14.03.1991

 English version: Soviet Journal of Quantum Electronics, 1991, 21:10, 1115–1117

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