Optical characteristics of the near-surface plasma initiated by high-power femtosecond laser pulses of different polarisation

The interaction of differently polarised femtosecond laser pulses with an intensity of 10¹⁵ — 10¹⁷ W cm^–2 with the surface of a solid target was calculated theoretically. In the calculation of absorption of the laser radiation, the electrodynamic, hydrodynamic, and kinetic equations were solved in combination at the plasma — vacuum boundary. The dependences of plasma reflectivity on the intensity, polarisation, and the angle of incidence of laser radiation on the target were determined. A comparison with experimental data was made.