Intense high-repetition-rate excimer lasers and applications

Transverse-discharge flashlamp operation: a surface model of gas breakdown as a first step towards representing discharge initiation

“…where ∂U/∂t is the slope of the lamp voltage rise. According to experimental observations of [19], the value E/N 2 ×10 −16 V cm −2 is almost constant for all the rare gases, almost independent of the gas pressure and changes slightly ( 40%) with variation of the applied voltage from 20 to 50 kV. This allows us to estimate V w from (4) for our experimental conditions (i.e.…”

“…The electrical breakdown is also accompanied by the inter-electrode voltage drop which is delayed with respect to the moment of application of the electrical field. Such a model has also been investigated in numerous works including those related to research concerning the use of extended, multi-channel and homogeneous surface discharges as powerful sources of UV and VUV radiation, as well as of low-inductance-operated multi-channel spark gaps in surface discharges [10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20]. Let us henceforth refer to this model as the 'surface breakdown model'.…”

“…In accordance with [21], one could expect a static breakdown voltage of U vol br ≈ 25 kV for Xe in a gap of 6 cm length. A slightly higher evaluation, U vol br ≈ 33 kV, results from the data on E vol br /N from [22], where E vol br and N are the breakdown electrical field strength and the gas density respectively. We have already pointed out in the previous section that the lamp operates steadily at voltages as low as 3 kV, which is about ten times lower than the expected value of U vol br .…”

Development of ionization waves in argon at atmospheric pressure with inhomogeneous preliminary ionization

“…a steep front is used for a number of lasers in which high electron temperatures are required to excite the upper laser level [16]. A volumetric (diffuse) discharge at high pressures is formed due to the preionization of the gap from the additional source.…”

“…The use of differently shaped electrodes makes it possible to reduce the concentration of initial electrons and expand the range of conditions for the formation of a pulsed diffuse discharge [16][17][18]. Lasers in which a volumetric discharge at pressure of 1 atm or higher is initiated or stabilized by an electron beam should be separately noted [17,18].…”