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Laser-induced preionization of a rare-gas halide discharge
R S Taylor1, A J Alcock, K E Leopold
1Division of Physics, National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa KiA 0R6, Canada.
Optics Letters
|August 21, 2009
Summary
Uniform preionization in Xenon Chloride (XeCl) discharges was achieved using Krypton Fluoride (KrF) laser radiation. This method effectively controls initial ionization density for scalable applications.
Area of Science:
- Gas discharge physics
- Laser-induced plasma
Background:
- Achieving uniform preionization is crucial for stable and efficient gas discharge operation.
- Controlling initial electron density impacts discharge characteristics and performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the use of Krypton Fluoride (KrF) laser radiation for uniform preionization in Xenon Chloride (XeCl) discharges.
- To determine the effectiveness of KrF laser preionization with benzene additives.
Main Methods:
- Utilized modest-energy-density KrF laser radiation for preionization.
- Employed benzene additives at parts-per-million levels.
- Operated in a 5-atm XeCl discharge with a 2.5 x 2.5 cm2 cross-section.
Main Results:
- Achieved uniform preionization with KrF laser radiation.
- Reached an initial ionization density of approximately 10^7 cm^-3 with ~1 mJ/cm^2 KrF energy.
- Demonstrated the effectiveness of benzene additives in enhancing preionization.
Conclusions:
- KrF laser radiation offers a scalable method for uniform preionization in gas discharges.
- This technique provides effective control over preionization conditions for XeCl lasers.
