Investigation of the dynamics of plasma formation near a target acted on by microsecond CO₂laser pulses

Abstract

An experimental investigation was made of the dynamics of plasma formation close to the surface of a graphite target in air and inert gases in the range of pressures 0.1–760 Torr and of laser radiation flux densities (0.1–1.4)×108 W/cm2. It was found that a plasma appeared 40–130 nsec after the start of the laser pulse due to evaporation of the target and subsequent ionization of its vapor by the laser radiation.