CO/sub 2/ TEA laser discharge development: A high-speed-camera investigation

Journal Article · Thu Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1979 · J. Appl. Phys.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.326024· OSTI ID:6554369

Sakai, Y; Takahashi, M; Sakamoto, S; Tagashira, H

Discharge development processes, such as homogeneous glow formation, glow-to-filamentary arc transition, and arc formation, of moderate volume CO/sub 2/ TEA laser medium with external ultraviolet (uv) volume preionization are studied by a high-speed-camera technique. The framing records in this paper supplement the earlier streak ones of CO/sub 2/ TEA laser discharges of Sakai et al. The records show that instability appears as a bright spot at the cathode in the middle of the uniform glow stage, then propagates in the anode direction, keeping the shape of a bright spot or changing into a bright filament. This propagation continues even after termination of the volume-dominated glow. The discharge development is found, from an understanding of the current waveform, to be considerably sensitive to the CO/sub 2/, N/sub 2/, and He composition ratio, and the pulse-forming network and other characteristics are also studied. The glow-to-arc transition mechanism and the dominant contributor to suppress arc formation are discussed.

• Research Organization: Department of Electrical Engineering, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060, Japan
• OSTI ID: 6554369
• Journal Information: J. Appl. Phys.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Appl. Phys.; (United States) Vol. 50:2; ISSN JAPIA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
420300* -- Engineering-- Lasers-- (-1989)
CARBON DIOXIDE LASERS
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ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
ELEMENTS
FLUIDS
GAS LASERS
GLOW DISCHARGES
HELIUM
INSTABILITY
INSTABILITY GROWTH RATES
IONIZATION
LASERS
NITROGEN
NONMETALS
PHOTOGRAPHY
PLASMA INSTABILITY
RARE GASES
ULTRAHIGH-SPEED PHOTOGRAPHY