Laser Interaction : Thermal and Mechanical Coupling to Targets

The physical phenomena which inf luences thermal and mechanical coupling of in f ra red l a s e r -r a d i a t i o n t o mate r ia l s a r e reviewed. Both pulsed and CW i n t e r a c t i o n s a r e considered, but the interact i o n of pulsed l a s e r s with metals i n an a i r environment i s emphasized. Selected examples of vacuum int e r a c t i o n s and coupling t o non-metals a r e a l s o included.