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The dependence of mass ablation rate and ablation pressure on laser wavelength and intensity have been measured for planar aluminum targets irradiated with 0.27-, 0.35-, and 0.53-μm laser pulses of 2-ns full width at half-maximum and at irradiances of 1012–5×1013 W/cm2. Target absorption is dominated by inverse bremsstrahlung and the ablative flow is steady state. The results show good agreement with theory modified by the steepening of the plasma density gradient for decreasing laser wavelength.

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Planar targets of different Z were irradiated with 0.53 μm laser light at intensities ≤5×1013 W/cm2. The target rear surface was observed to be first heated by the laser-generated shock wave. This was followed by a strong second heating which was attributed to radiation transport through the decompressed target. This additional heating might also be responsible for enhancing early laser transmission through thick targets.

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