Measurement of the energy distribution during laser vaporization of magnesium

The energy remaining in a target and in the vaporized material is measured when magnesium is vaporized by a neodymium laser in air at atmospheric pressure. Thirty-six percent of the energy of the incident laser light remains in the target. At 600 microsec after the laser pulse has terminated, practically all of the energy used to vaporize the magnesium is concentrated in the hot air near the surface of the target.