Plasma induced by resonance enhanced multiphoton ionization in inert gas

Journal Article · Sat Dec 15 04:00:00 EST 2007 · Journal of Applied Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2825041· OSTI ID:21057546

Shneider, Mikhail N; Zhili, Zhang; Miles, Richard B ^[1]

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1. Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544 (United States)

We present a detailed model for the evolution of resonance enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI) produced plasma during and after the ionizing laser pulse in inert gas (argon, as an example) at arbitrary pressures. Our theory includes the complete process of the REMPI plasma generation and losses, together with the changing gas thermodynamic parameters. The model shows that the plasma expansion follows a classical ambipolar diffusion and that gas heating results in a weak shock or acoustic wave. The gas becomes involved in the motion not only from the pressure gradient due to the heating, but also from the momentum transfer from the charged particles to gas atoms. The time dependence of the total number of electrons computed in theory matches closely with the results of coherent microwave scattering experiments.

• OSTI ID: 21057546
• Journal Information: Journal of Applied Physics, Journal Name: Journal of Applied Physics Journal Issue: 12 Vol. 102; ISSN JAPIAU; ISSN 0021-8979
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
AMBIPOLAR DIFFUSION
ARGON
CHARGED PARTICLES
ELECTRONS
LASERS
MICROWAVE RADIATION
MOMENTUM TRANSFER
PHOTOIONIZATION
PHOTON-ATOM COLLISIONS
PLASMA
PLASMA DIAGNOSTICS
PLASMA EXPANSION
PLASMA HEATING
PLASMA PRODUCTION
PRESSURE GRADIENTS
PULSES
RESONANCE
SHOCK WAVES
SOUND WAVES
TIME DEPENDENCE