Laser beam propagation in an evaporating polydisperse aerosol

The effect of polydispersity on laser beam propagation through an evaporating aerosol is studied theoretically in the single scattering approximation. The general theory is discussed. Evolution of the size distribution due to laser-induced evaporation in a spatially homogeneous system is then examined. The character of a polydisperse aerosol's evolution due to laser-induced evaporation is shown to differ markedly from that found in ordinary thermal evaporation; among other unusual features, at higher beam intensities, the size distribution is found first to narrow and subsequently to broaden. Laser beam propagation in a polydisperse aqueous fog is simulated. The penetration time through a fog for a model monodisperse fog is found to be substantially larger than that found for the correct polydisperse fog. A temperature pulse has been shown to propagate through a fog with a maximum value asymptotically decreasing with time to a constant value.