Conversion of dc Fields in a Capacitor Array to Radiation by a Relativistic Ionization Front

Journal Article · Sun Jan 22 23:00:00 EST 1995 · Physical Review Letters; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.74.542· OSTI ID:6449102

Mori, W; Katsouleas, T; Dawson, J; Lai, C ^[1]

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1. University of California, Los Angeles, California 90024 (United States) University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089-0484 (United States)

A mechanism for generating coherent radiation of high power, variable duration, and broad tunability over several orders of magnitude from a laser-ionized gas-filled capacitor array is described. The scheme directly converts a dc electric field wave'' into a coherent electromagnetic wave train when a relativistic ionization front passes between the plates. The frequency and duration of the radiation is controlled by the gas pressure and/or capacitor spacing. Output frequency and power are calculated and compared to 2D particle-in-cell simulations.

• DOE Contract Number: FG03-92ER40745; FG03-91ER12114
• OSTI ID: 6449102
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters; (United States), Journal Name: Physical Review Letters; (United States) Vol. 74:4; ISSN 0031-9007; ISSN PRLTAO
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

665520* -- Other Methods of Direct Energy Conversion-- (1992-)
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
CAPACITORS
COHERENT RADIATION
CONVERSION
DATA
DC SYSTEMS
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
DISPERSION RELATIONS
ELECTRIC FIELDS
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ENERGY CONVERSION
ENERGY SYSTEMS
EQUIPMENT
FLUIDS
FREQUENCY RANGE
GASES
INFORMATION
IONIZATION
NUMERICAL DATA
PLASMA
PLASMA DRIFT
PLATES
POWER
POWER SYSTEMS
PRESSURE DEPENDENCE
RADIATION SOURCES
RADIATIONS
RELATIVISTIC PLASMA
SIMULATION
THEORETICAL DATA
TUNING