Basic laser processes involved in high average power laser target interaction include nonlinear optical effects. Energy transfer rates are largely influenced by surface induced plasma phenomena. Current investigations are related to plasma enhanced energy coupling mechanisms by using repetitively pulsed carbon-dioxide laser radiation. The laser system, presently available at ISL, provides bursts of pulses with energies of 20 to 30 J/pulse. Repetition rates can be set arbitrarily up to 100 pps. Peak powers of the individual pulses in the multi-MW-range are attained with average powers, determined by the repetition rate up to 3 kW. According to the type of material under investigation, the required power densities have been adapted by suitably chosen focusing conditions. Experimental results are reported and discussed concerning the behavior of various target materials. Emphasis was put on the study both of dielectric and semiconducting materials. A few examples have been chosen which are of common technical interest for laser protective devices in an industrial environment or in other fields of high power- density laser applications.

Date Published: 4 April 1997
PDF: 4 pages
Proc. SPIE 3092, XI International Symposium on Gas Flow and Chemical Lasers and High-Power Laser Conference, (4 April 1997); doi: 10.1117/12.270152

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 3092:
XI International Symposium on Gas Flow and Chemical Lasers and High-Power Laser Conference
Denis R. Hall; Howard J. Baker, Editor(s)