A containment plenum is adapted to deliver laser light to an interaction region
of an inhabitable structure to remove material from the structure. The containment
plenum includes a plenum housing adapted to be coupled to a source of laser light.
The containment plenum further includes a window substantially transparent to the
laser light. The window is mounted within the plenum housing to transmit the laser
light in a downstream direction and to provide a barrier to upstream transport
of particulate matter generated by interaction of the laser light and the structure.
The containment plenum further includes a nozzle fluidly coupled to a source of
compressed gas. The nozzle is mounted downstream of the window whereby the laser
light and the compressed gas are transmitted through the nozzle in the downstream
direction to the interaction region of the structure. The containment plenum further
includes a resilient interface coupled to the plenum housing and adapted to resiliently
contact the structure and to substantially surround the interaction region, thereby
confining the material and removing the material from the interaction region.