Investigation of Discharge Processes in Electrically Excited Blue/Green Lasers.
Abstract
Total and partial cross sections for mercuric bromide (HgBr2) electron attachment and ionization reactions of importance in laser discharges have been measured in electron beam experiments. Corresponding rate coefficients have been determined independently in a pulsed, electron swarm apparatus. These studies have determined that the electron impact ionization cross section of HgBr2 is very large, increasing from a threshold at 10.6 eV to a value of 2 x 10 to the minus 15th power sq cm at 70 eV, with HgBr2 ion being the principal ion formed at low energies. Beam measurements also have revealed only one electron loss process, dissociative attachment. This attachment reaction which produces Br ion has a threshold energy of 3.1 eV and a peak cross section of 1 x 10 to the minus 17th power sq cm at 3.7 eV. From swarm measurements, an attachment rate coefficient of 1.5 x 10 to the minus 10th power cu cm/sec at a few electron volts average electron energy has been determined. This value is consistent with cross section values determined from beam measurements and with values inferred from kinetic modeling studies of electron beam controlled HgBr2 laser discharges.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 31, 1980
- Accession Number
- ADA087682
Entities
People
- Walter J. Wiegand
Organizations
- United Technologies Corporation