Violent surface oxidation of metals and associated phenomena resulting from continuous irradiation with CO2 laser radiation

An investigation was made of the action of continuous CO₂ laser radiation of 1 kW power on metals in air and oxygen at pressures of 10^–3 –1 atm. The results obtained indicated a considerable (severalfold) increase in the absorptivity of metals in an oxidizing medium. It was established that the surface oxidation initiated optical discharges in air near the target, which were maintained by combustion of the target material.