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On the importance of electron impact processes in excimer-pumped alkali laser-induced plasmas

Journal Article · · Optics Letters
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1364/OL.42.004295· OSTI ID:1399892
 [1]
  1. Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (United States). Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science; Sandia National Lab. (SNL-CA), Livermore, CA (United States). Scalable Modeling and Analysis
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We present that the excimer-pumped alkali laser (XPAL) system has recently been demonstrated in several different mixtures of alkali vapor and rare gas. Without special preventive measures, plasma formation during operation of XPAL is unavoidable. Some recent advancements in the availability of reliable data for electron impact collisions with atoms and molecules have enabled development of a complete reaction mechanism to investigate XPAL-induced plasmas. Here, we report on pathways leading to plasma formation in an Ar/C2H6/CsAr/C2H6/Cs XPAL sustained at different cell temperatures. We find that depending on the operating conditions, the contribution of electron impact processes can be as little as bringing the excitation of Cs(P2) states to higher level Cs** states, and can be as high as bringing Cs(P2) excited states to a full ionization. Increasing the input pumping power or cell temperature, or decreasing the C2H6 mole fraction leads to electron impact processes dominating in plasma formation over the energy pooling mechanisms previously reported in literature.
Research Organization:
Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC04-94AL85000
OSTI ID:
1399892
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1411621
Report Number(s):
SAND--2016-10244J; SAND--2017-7974J; 648227
Journal Information:
Optics Letters, Journal Name: Optics Letters Journal Issue: 21 Vol. 42; ISSN 0146-9592; ISSN OPLEDP
Publisher:
Optical Society of America (OSA)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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  • Palla, Andrew D.; Verdeyen, Joseph T.; Carroll, David L.
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conference November 2010
Detailed analysis of kinetic and fluid dynamic processes in diode-pumped alkali lasers journal January 2013

Cited By (1)

Comparing laser induced plasmas formed in diode and excimer pumped alkali lasers journal January 2018

Figures / Tables (4)

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Figure 4(p. 11)figure Figure 4

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