Investigation of the absorption coefficient of metal targets irradiated by pulse-periodic CO2 laser radiation in air

The effect of a breakdown plasma in air and of oxidizing reactions occurring on the surface of metallic targets on the temperature dependence of their effective absorption coefficient was investigated. A lowering of the threshold for the breakdown of air by pulse-periodic CO₂ laser radiation close to a copper target was discovered when the target was heated. A comparison was made between the kinetics of heating metals in air by means of cw and pulse-periodic laser radiation.