Comment on “Early stage time evolution of a dense nanosecond microdischarge used in fast optical switching applications” [Phys. Plasmas 22, 123518 (2015)]
Abstract
In an effort to understand the opaque nature of high-voltage nanosecond microdischarges and their ability to block 532 nm nanosecond laser pulses, as demonstrated by Bataller et al. [Appl. Phys. Lett. 105, 223501 (2014)], Levko and Raja have published a paper [Phys. Plasmas 22, 123518 (2015)] which simulates spark discharges in 1 bar of xenon gas. At this ambient pressure, Levko and Raja simulate final electron densities much too low to explain the observed opacity and conclude the probing laser generates the requisite ionization for self-blocking. However, the experimental findings of Bataller et al. showed opacity being reached at 10 bar, an order of magnitude larger than the pressure simulated by Levko and Raja. Furthermore, Bataller et al. showed the spark remained opaque for very low laser intensities, insufficient to cause any significant ionization. Although the simulation performed by Levko and Raja could have merit at 1 bar, it is not an appropriate comparison to the regime studied by Bataller et al.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 2016
- Source ID
- 10.1063/1.4943890
Entities
People
- Alexander Bataller
- J. Koulakis
- S. Putterman
- Seth Pree
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
- University of California