Two‐dimensional modeling of aerosol‐induced breakdown in air

Abstract
The dynamics of aerosol‐induced breakdown in air is described using a three‐temperature nonequilibrium thermodynamic model of the air plasma and two‐dimensional Lagrangian hydrodynamics. From a heated sphere of air used as the initial condition an expanding laser‐supported absorption wave develops, provided a maintenance intensity‐threshold criterion is met. The maintenance threshold is close to 6×106 W/cm2 for 10.6‐μm radiation. Although the absorption wave develops a shock, it differs in important ways from a one‐dimensional laser‐supported detonation wave due to its two‐dimensional character.