Interaction of pulse-periodic XeCl laser radiation with metals

An experimental investigation and calculations were made of the interaction of pulse-periodic XeCl laser radiation of intensity 10⁶–10⁸ W/cm² with metals. The main energy loss channels associated with evaporation of the metal, its thermal radiation, and convective cooling of the surrounding gas were determined. An optimal regime was shown to exist for heating metal samples which was a function of the laser radiation intensity and was determined for each of the investigated metals by its thermophysical and optical properties.