Characteristics of the evolution of a plasma formed by cw and pulse-periodic CO2 laser radiation in various gases

An investigation was made of the interaction between high-power cw and pulse-periodic CO₂ laser radiation and a low-threshold optical breakdown plasma near a metal surface. Characteristics of the breakdown plasma were studied as a function of the experimental conditions. A qualitative analysis was made of the results using a simple one-dimensional model for laser combustion waves.