Influence of electrostriction on the dynamics of a laser spark under slow combustion conditions

An analysis is made of the influence of a longitudinal electrostrictive force on the formation and growth of a laser spark. It is shown that both under steady-state conditions and during slow combustion an allowance for the longitudinal electrostrictive force alters the parameters of a weakly ionized plasma and, in particular, it ensures a better agreement between the experimentally determined and theoretically calculated velocities of propagation of a plasma filament under slow combustion conditions.