Development of semitransparent plasma bunches under the influence of laser radiation

A numerical investigation is reported of the development of semitransparent plasma bunches under the influence of laser radiation of the order of 1 MW/cm² power density under conditions when the main mechanism of the plasma front motion is the plasma radiation transfer. Calculations are reported of the coefficients of absorption of neodymium laser radiation in air. An analysis is made of the propagation of slow radiation waves traveling at velocities of 10–100 m/s and of the acceleration of a plasma front when the plasma is inside a laser beam. The results of these calculations are in good agreement with the available experimental data and estimates. It is shown that, under cylindrical geometry conditions, a plasma can act as an efficient light source. The plasma dimensions may be considerably greater than the laser beam radius.