plasma shielding

in laser induced breakdown spectroscopy
https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.08524
Prevention of laser pulse energy from reaching a sample surface as a result of the presence of a laser-induced plasma.
Note:
The main process leading to plasma shielding is the absorption of the laser energy by electrons (inverse Bremsstrahlung) and multiphoton ionization (mainly relevant for shorter laser wavelengths).
Source:
PAC, 2021, 93, 647. (Glossary of methods and terms used in analytical spectroscopy (IUPAC Recommendations 2019)) on page 728 [Terms] [Paper]