SOLVED:When a high-power laser is used in the Earth's atmosphere, the electric field associated with the laser beam can ionize the air, turning it into a conducting plasma that reflects the laser
Laser-assisted guiding of electric discharges around objects | Science Advances
ionization energy - Can a powerful enough laser ionize nitrogen in the air along the laser's beam? - Physics Stack Exchange
Femtosecond Lasers Create 3-D Midair Plasma Displays You Can Touch - IEEE Spectrum
waves - Can light beams (e.g. from a laser) visibly interfere if they cross in mid-air? - Physics Stack Exchange
Laser-induced breakdown, explained by RP Photonics Encyclopedia; optical breakdown, damage, conical emission, laser machining, spectroscopy
Laser-assisted guiding of electric discharges around objects | Science Advances
The three-step laser-ionization scheme (levels labeled from 0 to 2) for... | Download Scientific Diagram
Record-Breaking Terahertz Laser Beam Turns Air Into Glowing Plasma