Dynamics of channel punching in glass and formation of structures by modulated radiation from an industrial CO2 laser

An experimental investigation was made of the formation of a channel in the process of hole punching in glass by pulse-periodic radiation from a cw CO₂ laser in the presence of a concurrent stream of air reaching the target. The dependence of the punching velocity on the air pressure in the laser-radiation intensity range 40 — 270 kW cm^–2 and the rate of change of the hole radius were determined. The frequency of oscillations of the channel walls in the course of punching was measured. Formation of quasiperiodic structures on the channel walls was observed.