The absorbed energy release within solid spherical particles, due to laser radiation, can be substantially inhomogeneous; Under the influence of intense laser radiation heat transfer by conduction has no time for the equalization of temperature inside a particle, as a result its heating is also strongly inhomogeneous. Using the Mie theory, a theoretical investigation into the distribution of hear source function within the solid, absorbed particles is carried out. Based on a numerical solution of the heat conduction equation, taking into account the thermal dependencies of optical and thermophysical properties of particle material, the temperature distribution inside the particles is investigated in detail. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.