The response of materials to similar 5-ms pulses of 10. 6- mu laser radiation at peak power densities of 1 to 2 MW/cm**2 has been observed with simultaneous determination of both front and back surface temperature rises, pressure delivered to the specimen as a function of time, total impulse delivered to the specimen, and absorption wave effects via high-speed framing camera coverage. The materials studied are 2024 aluminum alloy, 304 stainless steel, graphite, a Fiberglas-epoxy composite, alumina, MgO, and Pyroceram. The photographic evidence indicates the formation of laser-supported plasmatrons in the case of the metals and laser-supported combustion waves with the ceramic materials.