Projects carried out by the Physics Institute of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR in the field of industrial laser development and applications

The fundamental and applied research in the field of industrial lasers being conducted by the Physics Institute is briefly reviewed. In particular, attention is given to the two principal directions of current research: (1) a study of the interaction between high-power radiation and industrial materials and (2) development and practical implementation of noncontact nondestructive fault-detection techniques. Several commercial and experimental laser systems developed so far are described, as are their applications in laser hardening, laser machining, laser measurements, and laser fault detection.