Chemogasdynamic processes during a laser-induced interaction of silica with methane

A laser plume was initiated on the surfaces of laser targets, made of silica and silicate glasses, located in a flowing gaseous CH₄ – Ar mixture at atmospheric pressure and exposed to cw laser radiation of the 10.6 μm wavelength. An investigation was made of the dependence of the composition of the products of chemical reduction reactions, induced by the laser radiation, on the composition of the gaseous mixture. The method of deposition on the walls of a tube enclosing the resultant flow revealed spatial separation of the products.