Production of nanomaterials by vaporizing ceramic targets irradiated by a moderate-power continuous-wave CO$_2$ laser

The efficiency of utilization of CO$_2$ laser energy for vaporization of Al$_2$O$_3$ ceramics is evaluated using a mathematical model for the interaction of laser radiation with materials. It is shown that the calculated efficiency of radiation-energy utilization is not higher than 15% at a radiation power density of 10$^5$ W/cm$^2$ on the target. On the experimental facility designed for the synthesis of nanopowders, a vaporization rate of 1 g/h was achieved for Al$_2$O$_3$, which corresponds to a 3% efficiency of radiation-energy utilization. The dependence of the characteristic particle size of a zirconium oxide nanopowder on helium pressure in the range of 0.01–1.00 atm was studied. Results of experiments on vaporization of multicomponent materials (LaNiO$_3$ and the Tsarev meteorite) are given.