A DC to optical frequency converter based on plasma ionization
- Univ. of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA (United States)
- Univ. of California, Los Angeles, CA (United States)
The authors describe an idea for a new class of high power radiation source. Rather than create electromagnetic fields, the present scheme frequency upshifts an existing static field ({omega} = 0, k = k{sub 0}) by temporally varying the dielectric properties of a medium (i.e., ionizing a gas). An array of alternating capacitors is charged to a large voltage to produce a static electric field of the form E {approximately} (E{sub 0} sin k{sub 0} z) {cflx y}. When the area between the capacitors is filled with a low density working gas and ionized by a short-pulse laser, a phased discharge current generates a radiation pulse following behind the ionizing laser. The frequency of the radiation generated will be shown to scale as {omega} = {omega}{sub p}{sup 2}/2k{sub o}c where {omega}{sub p}{sup 2} = 4{pi}n{sub o}e{sup 2}/m and n{sub o} is the gas/plasma density. The output frequency, pulse duration, bandwidth, arbitrary chirp, etc. can be easily controlled by varying the gas pressure and/or capacitor spacing. Surprisingly, the larger is the spacing between capacitors, the higher is the output frequency. Theory, 2-D PIC simulations and plans for proof-of-principle experiments in the microwave to infrared regime will be presented.
- OSTI ID:
- 42969
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-940604--; ISBN 0-7803-2006-9
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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