Laser ignition of plasma off aluminum surfaces

The prompt initiation of a plasma above metal surfaces irradiated by a CO2 laser pulse in the intensities range one million to one billion W per sq cm is modelled. The initiation mechanism is assumed to be the vaporization of flakes or surface defects that are thermally insulated from the bulk surface, followed by laser induced breakdown in the vapor. The fluid dynamics of the expansion in an air background is modelled in the 1 dimensional and 3 dimensional regimes. Breakdown of the vapor due to inverse bremsstrahlung absorption of the laser radiation is calculated specifically for aluminum by use of a Boltzmann code. Results are presented in the form of a map of breakdown time versus incident laser flux and compared with available experimental data.