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We have investigated material initiated air breakdown using a long 10.6-μm pulse (tens of microseconds) and attributed the breakdown initiation to a thermal mechanism. In particular, breakdown initiated on glass fibers after irradiation times up to 35 μsec with power densities of 106−107 W/cm2 is reported. Measured parameters included breakdown threshold, time to breakdown, plasma expansion dynamics, and transmission of 10.6-μm radiation through the plasma.
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Lowder et al. (1973) studied this question.
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