Spectroscopic Investigation of Laser-Initiated Low-Pressure Plasmas in Atmospheric Gases.

Abstract

Laser-initiated breakdown of N2, 02, and Ar has been investigated st sub-atmospheric pressures using a pulsed (10 ns) Nd:yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) laser at 1.06 micrometers. Breakdown thresholds have been determined from 3 to 760 torr and spectral analysis of the plasma emission has been carried out over the range 300-600 nm. Sharp spectral features arising from highly excited singly and multiply charged ions are reported, as well as an underlying continuum at intermediate pressure. Time resolved measurements indicate a complex kinetic dynamic optical behavior. (Author)

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Nov 03, 1982
Accession Number
ADA129284

Entities

People

  • R. A. Armstrong
  • R. A. Lucht
  • W. T. Rawlins

Organizations

  • Air Force Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Barometric Pressure
  • Bremsstrahlung
  • Electron Density
  • Electrons
  • Emission
  • Intensity
  • Ionization
  • Laser Pulses
  • Lasers
  • Line Spectra
  • Measurement
  • Picosecond Time
  • Security
  • Spectra
  • Spectroscopy
  • Transitions

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Materials Science and Engineering.
  • Pulsed Power and Plasma Physics.
  • Spectroscopy.

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy
  • Directed Energy - Lasers