Change in the transparency of a water aerosol under the action of CO2 laser pulses

An analysis of a system of hydrothermodynamics equations, describing the evaporation of a water drop by laser radiation, is used to find the threshold for explosive evaporation of drops with initial radii in the range R₀ = 0.1–10 μ. The results obtained are applied in estimation of the sudden change in the bulk attenuation coefficient of an aerosol at wavelengths λ = 0.63 and 10.6 μ. due to drop fragmentation under the action of rectangular laser pulses. This change may increase the λ = 0.63 μ attenuation tens of times and may reduce slightly the λ = 10.6 μ attenuation.