Transmission cutoff accompanying remote optical breakdown of the atmosphere by CO2 laser pulses

An experimental study was made of the absorption of laser radiation (λ =10.6 μ) accompanying optical breakdown in transmission paths of up to 130 m in the real atmosphere. It was discovered that a transmission cutoff occurred in technically pure air and in the atmosphere with particles having a specified disperse composition. Under laboratory conditions an investigation was made of the growth rate of the plasma formations as a function of the duration of the interaction pulse and of the pressure of the surrounding air.