Subsonic radiation waves. Comparison of the theory with experiment

The experimental results on the propagation (in air) of plane plasma fronts of absorption of neodymium and CO₂ laser radiations are compared with numerical calculations carried out using a theory of plane laminar subsonic radiation waves and making a detailed allowance for the spectral and angular distributions of the radiation. The agreement between the theory and experiment is good, at least far from the optical detonation threshold.