In article , LukeCampbell
wrote:

Why pulsed lasers? Short pulses cause damage to the target through
mechanical means (induced by the violent expansion of the solid
density plasma created by the pulse) rather than thermal. This is
two to three orders of magnitude more efficient at causing structural
damage than direct vaporization. The high repetition rate specified
(several kilohertz or faster) will allow you to blast holes though
things quickly compared to the relatively slow burning of CW lasers.

You also have some problems with ionization of the air in some
conditions, degrading the beam.

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