Shadow photography of laser-driven shock waves in air

The interaction of a pulsed TE-CO/sub 2/-laser (10.6 /spl mu/m wavelength, 7 /spl mu/s pulse length, 0.7 J pulse energy, 10/sup 7/ W/cm/sup 2/ power density, 100 kW mean power) with metals in air was investigated. Laser-supported absorption phenomena and material ablation processes are compared to those of conventional pulsed TEA-CO/sub 2/-lasers. Of interest were the time-dependent plasma formation and the evolution of the shock waves. To achieve a time resolution better than 10 ns, a pulsed dye laser was used as a light source for the shadow photography.