Depth of formation of a shock wave due to interaction of laser radiation with the surface of a molybdenum single crystal

It was confirmed experimentally that an elastic wave could transform into a shock wave. This process resulted in a sharp increase in the number of defects in the crystal lattice. The example of molybdenum, whose (100) surface interacted with Q-switched ruby laser radiation, was used to demonstrate that a defectconcentration maximum occurred at a depth corresponding to a considerable distortion of the front of a stress wave generated by the laser radiation and to its conversion into a shock wave. The position of this maximum was in good agreement with the theory. A criterion of the possibility of formation of a shock wave was derived for the interaction with laser and other radiations.