Laser Thermochemistry: Fundamentals and Applications

Research into the thermochemical effect of laser radiation concentrates in the following areas: analysis of physical mechanisms, responsible for formation of feedbacks between chemical, thermal and other degrees of freedom of the system in various problems; determination of the typical nonlinearities and analysis of the effect of various feedback channels on the kinetics and dynamics of thermochemical processes; examination of self-organisation phenomena, induced by laser radiation in heating matter; examination of the possibilities of efficient laser control of thermochemical processes. Special attention is given to effects determined by macroscopic nonequilibrium and feedbacks between various degrees of freedom of thermochemical systems. Processes stimulated by laser radiation in homogeneous media, phenomena taking place in laser heating of metals, and physico-chemical processes in laser heating of liquids are discussed. Examples of technological applications of laser thermochemistry are given: LCVD, thin film fabrication, laser synthesis of powders.