Investigation of Ultraviolet Photoionization Sustained Discharge for Gas Lasers
Abstract
The objectives of this program are to investigate and improve ultraviolet (uv) photoionization plasma conditioning techniques, to perform the demonstration of a uv sustained electrical discharge atmospheric pressure CO2 laser, and to establish scalability limits. Initially, fundamental experiments employing small scale discharge volumes established that in excess of 200 J/1- atm could be input to 1 atm CO2 laser mixture by the uv photoionization of an added low ionization potential organic molecule. These and additional experiments led to conjectures for mixture mean-free paths for certain critical CO2, N2, He tri-n-propylamine mixture ratios on the order of 8 cm. Power extraction and small signal gain measurements were undertaken. The limits of scalability of the uv sustained plasma conditioning technique are being addressed. A scaling model for the uv-sustained laser has been developed. Using the model, predictions of the characteristics of a high average power uv- sustained laser have been made.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 1976
- Accession Number
- ADA022564
Entities
People
- R. C. Lind
Organizations
- HRL Laboratories