Interaction of metals with rectangular neodymium laser radiation pulses

Probe and spectroscopic measurements were made of an erosion jet created by the interaction of rectangular neodymium laser pulses with targets made of Sn, Cd, Pb, and Zn. The time dependences of the absorption and scattering coefficients of the probe radiation were determined during the interaction. The ranges of the laser power density in which the liquid-droplet phase had a significant influence on the optical characteristics of the erosion jet were determined for the investigated metals.