Dynamic shift of the boiling point of a metal under the influence of laser radiation

An investigation was made of metastable states of overheated mercury when its surface was exposed to nanosecond laser pulses. A glass plate was used to apply a mechanical load to the surface. The dynamics of the thermodynamic state of mercury was analysed on the basis of the profile and amplitude of an acoustic signal propagating from the surface. The contribution of the vapour pressure was identified and the surface temperature was found as a function of time after the end of a laser pulse. The surface temperature decreased exponentially with time. The influence of a nonlinear thermal change in the coefficient of absorption of light by mercury on the photoacoustic signal amplitude was determined.