INTRACAVITY LASER SPECTROSCOPY DIAGNOSTICS OF LASER EROSION PLUME PRIOR TO THE MOMENT OF LOW-THRESHOLD NEAR-SURFACE OPTICAL-BREAKDOWN

By absorption intracavity laser spectroscopy for the first time quantitative data has been obtained on the component composition and the dynamics of the target material ingress into the weakly radiating erosion plume near the laser-irradiated aluminium target surface prior to the moment of low-threshold optical breakdown. The density of aluminium atoms in the plume has reached the value of 5 x 10(14) cm-3 at the moment of plasma formation. The character of variation of the erosion plume temperature as well as its absolute magnitude have been established.