Initiation of heterogeneous photocondensation processes by laser radiation

A physical model of heterogeneous photocondensation processes initiated in a saturated-vapor atmosphere by intense laser radiation is proposed. Several mechanisms of induction of nonlinear supersaturation in the medium are examined. The concentration and maximum radius of the formed drops for a prescribed nonlinear supersaturation are calculated. It is shown that the laser-flash energy introduced initially into the medium and ensuring the transfer of the condensation nuclei across the forbidden radius gap is capable of initiating a much more energetic macroprocess of drop generation from supersaturated vapor.Part of this work was reported at the Regional Applied Science Conference, Tomsk, Oct. 27–30, 1977. Proceedings of Physicotechnical Section. Tomsk State Univ., p. 81.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 6, pp. 80–84, June, 1979.