LASER-PLASMA FORMATION IN METALS VAPOR - KINETIC APPROACH

The break-down of metals vapour (Al, Cu) are simulated near the break- down threshold values of laser radiation. The approximations of collis ion-radiation model are used, including the detail kinetics of exited states with radiation and collision transitions, step-by-step ionisati on process, unexitation and recombination. Energy balance is based on two-temperature approximation : for electrons and for heavy particles. It is shown that the particles concentration in exited states and pla sma species composition differ rather from Saha-Boltzmann's distributi on. Strong dependence of the break-down threshold intensity on initial temperature of neutral and charged particles is shown.