Determination of the spatial and temporal characteristics of TEA CO2 laser microsecond radiation used in laser processing of materials

Experimental investigations were made of the feedback which appeared during laser processing of materials by pulsed microsecond radiation from a TEA CO₂ laser with a stable resonator. It was found that such feedback can lead to considerable distortions of the spatial and temporal radiation distributions on the target and of the conditions for the development of low-threshold optical breakdown in the atmosphere surrounding the target.