Effect of absorbing microinhomogeneities on optical damage to Alkali-Halide crystals

Micropores up to 30?C100 ??m in size (bulk density ??10⁵ cm^?3) are obtained in NaCl, KCl, KBr, and RbI via the effect of a pulse of a CO₂ laser with power density 10⁶?C10⁷ W cm^?2 up to 5 ??s long. When a pore appears, plasma formation is initiated. The average temperature is ??5500 K and the pressure is ??10⁴ kg cm^?2. The dependence of the average weight of the material removed from the pore on the energy of the crystal lattice is found. Pore formation occurs mainly via the effect of the radiation pulse, due to evaporation at the absorption wave front (velocity, 5 m s^?1) and plastic deformation. The annealing kinetics of micropores and the effect of the ionizing radiation on the bulk pore formation in NaCl crystals are investigated.