Unique properties of laser radiation including its monochromatic
properties, polarization, high spectral intensity, coherence, narrow
beam divergence, the possibility of controlling the pulse duration and
radiation spectrum and, finally, the fact that extremely high power and
energy create very favorable conditions for the extensive application of
lasers to communi- cation systems, systems for the lidar sensing and
ultra-high-precision ranging, navigation, remote monitoring of the
environment, and many other systems operating in the atmosphere. The
operative efficiency of the above systems depends significantly on the
state of the atmosphere and the corresponding behavior of laser radia-
tion propagating through it. This circumstance has stimulated the
studies of the above regularities during the passt 10-15 years. For the
investiga- tions to be carried out the scientists were forced to develop
new theories and methods for studying the problem experimentally.
Moreover, during such investigations some previously unknown phenomena
were observed, among them the nonlinear effects accompanying high-power
laser radiation propagating through the atmosphere are of paramount
importance. Among the nonlinear effects caused by high-power laser
radiation inter- action with the atmosphere, the effects accompanying
the propagation of high-power radiation through the atmospheric aerosols
are of particular interest. Aerosols always occur in the atmosphere. It
should be noted that the microphysical and optical characteristics of
atmospheric aerosols vary widely, this fact causes a great variety in
the features of their inter- action with radiation.
