Gas Breakdown at Optical Frequencies

Electric field-free gas breakdown in explosively driven generators

“…[1][2][3][4][5] Similar gas breakdown phenomena may take place in shock wave ferromagnetic and ferroelectric generators designed with explosively accelerated metallic flyer plates. In fact, in one series of our experiments, we had difficulty obtaining signals from the first of several single-turn diagnostic coils placed along the ferromagnetic element of a FMG.…”

“…In the early 1960s, it was discovered that the laser beams can induce gas breakdown. 4,5 It was experimentally demonstrated that high-power laser beams cause plasma formation and the propagation of the plasma front in gases with no metallic electrodes in the system. The ionization of gas and the formation of plasma occur due to inelastic collisions between electrons and atoms in which the interaction energy is drawn from the electromagnetic field of the light waves.…”

Characteristics of an Atmospheric Discharge Plasma as an RF Antenna

“…DDC is the dual directional coupler, TS represents a tuned stub, AL is a section of transmission line with adjustable length. At is the plasma antenna, A 2 is the second antenna. REC is the receiver.…”

On the formation and application of laser induced ionization tracks in gases

“…Ar at 1 atm in a strongly focused beam for fields between 2 × 10 6 V/cm and 107 V/cm [3][4][5][6][7][8]. The breakdown condition was defined by the production of up to 1013 ion pairs.…”