A problem of accelerating pellets of significant mass with a C02-laser pulse (or a pulse train) is under consideration. As it is known, the highest magnitudes of the accelerated pellet velocity of about 100 km/s were observed in the experiments on accelerating flat foils with a nanosecond Nd-laser pulse. The acceleration efficiency achieved was 5-10%. However the accelerated target usually turned into a cloud of superdense low-temperature plasma in these experiments.To avoid pellet destruction and to achieve maximum acceleration it is necessary, depending on the task stated, to meet certain requirements to the laser wave-length, power density and pulse duration. So, for instance, to accelerate pellets of frozen hydrogen only longwave lasers can be used. When pellets of other materials are to be accelerated the wave length range used can be broadened. However, the laser pulse duration must be large enough to avoid shock wave formation.The regime of laser-driven rocket traction seems to be the most acceptable. Difficulties in attaining this regime in the experiment mainly concern formation of a uniform and extended in the atmosphere laser beam. Acceleration of frozen hydrogen pellets for fuel injection in thermo-nuclear setups with magnetic confinement are discussed. It is shown that on the basis oflaboratory C02-lasers available pellet velocities up to 10-100 kmls can be obtained.

Experimental study of destructive effect of laser radiation upon rock samples has been carried out. Continuous wave C02-laser of LT-1 type with power up to 5 kW was used in experiments. The main objective of the study was to find parameters for rock -laser radiation' system for the conditions close to real technological processes of cutting rock slits, removing rock blocks and drilling boreholes. The experiments resulted in quantitative indications for efficient destruction of the rocks (quartzite, sandstone, marble etc.) with powerful laser radiation beam as well as in those for processes of cutting and breaking these rocks. Experiments on surface treatment of different rocks (granite, marble, hassock etc.) with laser radiation were also carried out.

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We propose using wavelength-modulation laser absorption spectroscopy in combination with quadrature detection of scattered light for remote industrial pollution monitoring in the atmosphere with a compact lidar-based gas sensor, which can be mounted on board an unmanned aerial vehicle. The instrument can be used for detecting leaks in product pipe lines; monitoring toxic gases near landfill sites, waste incineration plants, and other hazardous man-made facilities; analysing the gas atmosphere in industrial buildings and structures; and monitoring engineering processes at a sensitivity level of tens of ppm m in gas concentration measurements at characteristic distances of tens of metres.

We report the perspective development at TRINITI of the UV and JR lasers. Results of experimental investigations of the following lasers are presented: ArF laser (X = 193 nm) with average power up to 100 W and high repetition rate, COlaser (X =5.3÷6.6 ,m) with average power up to 50W and C02-laser (X =10.6 jim) with laser pulse duration 3-5jis and energy per pulse -5J.