Influence of an external electric field on particle generation during laser-plasma treating of metals

Evolution of plasma torch at the surface of some metals (Cu, Al, Sn, Pb) induced by varying external electric field of different polarity from 0 to 106 V/m-1 in the course of laser processing with the mean radiation flux density ∼106 W/cm–2 is studied. A size of the target material droplets, carried out from the irradiated zone, becomes several times less, as the field strength amplitude grows, independently of the field polarity.