Angle-dependent reflectance of laser-produced plasmas

The reflectance of planar targets irradiated by 400-mJ, 30-ps Nd:glass laser pulses was measured as a function of angle of incidence and polarization with an Ulbricht spherical photometer. At normal incidence reflectances greater than 0.6 were found. The reflectance for p-polarized light has a minimum at an incidence angle of 20 to 30 deg; for angles greater than 60 deg total reflection occurs for both sand p-polarized light. The results seem consistent with simulations.