Low-threshold Breakdown of Air Near a Target by CO2 Radiation, and the Associated Large Recoil Momentum
Barchukov A.I. , Bunkin F.V. , Konov V.I. , Prokhorov A.M.
A sharp drop (by more than two orders of magnitude) was observed in the threshold intensity for the breakdown of air near a target by C02-laser radiation. The target recoil momenta due to the optical breakdown of the air are measured. The experimental data are interpreted on the basis of the theory of a point-source explosion.