Measurement of ultralow radiation-induced charge densities using picosecond mid-IR laser-induced breakdown

Woodbury, Daniel; Schwartz, Robert M.; Milchberg, Howard M.

doi:10.1364/optica.6.000811

Title: Measurement of ultralow radiation-induced charge densities using picosecond mid-IR laser-induced breakdown

Journal Article · 19 June 2019 · Optica

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1364/optica.6.000811 · OSTI ID:1614431

^[1]; Schwartz, Robert M. ^[2]; Milchberg, Howard M. ^[2]

Univ. of Maryland, College Park, MD (United States); DOE/OSTI
Univ. of Maryland, College Park, MD (United States)

We demonstrate that avalanche ionization breakdown of air with picosecond mid-infrared (mid-IR) laser pulses is an exceptionally sensitive and quantitative probe of extremely low concentrations of charged species. By exponentially increasing the electron density in the vicinity of a single seed atom or molecule to detectable levels, mid-IR electron avalanche is an analogue of single photon detection in photomultiplier tubes and can be useful in a range of applications. We apply the technique to meter-scale standoff detection of a radioactive source, sensitive to extremely low concentrations of radiation-induced negative ions down to $~ 10^{3} {cm}^{- 3}$ , limited only by background. By imaging the location of spatially isolated avalanche breakdown sites, we directly measure these low densities and benchmark the performance of standoff detection diagnostics. We discuss implementation of this radiation detection scheme at ranges of 10–100 m and adapting the avalanche probe to detection of other low-density plasmas.

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Research Organization:: Krell Inst., Ames, IA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA); US Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR); US Department of the Navy, Office of Naval Research (ONR); USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)

Grant/Contract Number:: NA0003864

OSTI ID:: 1614431

Journal Information:: Optica, Journal Name: Optica Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 6; ISSN 2334-2536

Publisher:: Optical Society of AmericaCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Cited By (1)

Absolute Measurement of Laser Ionization Yield in Atmospheric Pressure Range Gases over 14 Decades Woodbury, D.; Schwartz, R. M.; Rockafellow, E. Physical Review Letters, Vol. 124, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.124.013201	journal	January 2020

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3951970.pdf Woodbury, Daniel; Schwartz, Robert; Milchberg, Howard https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.8156219 The current record is supplemented by this text	text	January 2019
3951970.pdf Woodbury, Daniel; Schwartz, Robert; Milchberg, Howard https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.8156219.v1 The current record is supplemented by this text	text	January 2019
Measurement of ultralow radiation-induced charge densities using picosecond laser induced breakdown Woodbury, Daniel; Schwartz, Robert; Milchberg, Howard https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.4510967 The current record is supplemented by this collection	collection	January 2019
Measurement of ultralow radiation-induced charge densities using picosecond laser induced breakdown Woodbury, Daniel; Schwartz, Robert; Milchberg, Howard https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.4510967.v1 The current record is supplemented by this collection	collection	January 2019