Interaction of CO2 laser radiation with a target under conditions where a plasma is formed by an auxiliary laser

An investigation was made of the process of energy transfer to a target from an optical breakdown plasma initiated by an independent source close to a metal surface irradiated by a CO₂ laser. Forced ignition of an optical discharge by an auxiliary laser emitting radiation of energy two or three orders of magnitude less than that of the CO₂ laser exerted a considerable influence on the efficiency of the interaction of CO₂ laser radiation with a highly reflecting metal surface. A plane one-dimensional gasdynamic model is used to provide a qualitative description of the basic features of the process considered.