Time dependences of the optical properties of a laser erosion jet

A simultaneous determination was made of the time dependences of the transmission, scattering, and absorption coefficients of ruby laser radiation used to probe an erosion jet created by interaction of a zinc target with neodymium laser radiation emitted in the free-running regime and characterized by an energy of ~1.5×10³ J and duration ~10^–3 sec. The results of the probe experiments and spectroscopic measurements indicated that a considerable role in the transmission of laser radiation by the jet was played by the target particles in the form of liquid drops. There was a change in the particle formation mechanism during the interaction of laser radiation with the metal target.