[en] The absorption mechanisms at 10.6μm are considered. Given our best theoretical knowledge, at high intensity, CO₂ absorption is a combination of resonant absorption, critical surface decay processes (rippling), and forward and backward Raman scattering. At low intensities (less than 10¹⁴W/cm²), in short pulse CO₂ experiments, resonant absorption is believed to dominate. The properties of the self generated magnetic fields are considered. These fields greatly affect the hot electron preheat, the lateral transport of energy along the surface of the target, and the enhanced plasma blowoff. And finally, the properties of the enhanced plasma blowoff will be discussed. In directly driven targets, this blowoff represents an energy loss. It has been suggested, however, that the blowoff itself can be used to drive targets