Quasiresonant laser-produced plasma: An efficient mechanism for localized breakdown

Journal Article · Mon Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1980 · J. Appl. Phys.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.328341· OSTI ID:5121620

Tam, A C

This paper deals semiquantitatively with the phenomenon of quasiresonant laser-produced plasma (QRLPP) generation, i.e., breakdown of an atomic vapor when a laser beam couples a resonant excited state with a high excited state. The origin of the breakdown, threshold conditions for the breakdown, and the the effect of inducible absorption are discussed. Furthermore, the QRLPP may exhibit an unusual asymmetrical behavior (observed for a Cs plasma) when the single mode cw dye laser is tuned near the quasiresonant absorption line: on the low-frequency wing, ''noise-reduction'' effect for the transmitted beam is observed, while on the high-frequency wing, ''self-oscillation'' of the plasma is observed. The self-oscillation seems to result from a periodic plasma diffusion from the laser focus. The QRLPP, produced by cw or pulsed lasers, is a very efficient plasma generation mechanism which appears to be useful for many atomic vapors, and the potential applications are discussed.

• Research Organization: IBM Research Laboratory, San Jose, California 95193
• OSTI ID: 5121620
• Journal Information: J. Appl. Phys.; (United States), Vol. 51:9
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
LASER-PRODUCED PLASMA
BREAKDOWN
RESONANCE
ABSORPTION
ASYMMETRY
CESIUM
DYE LASERS
EFFICIENCY
EXCITED STATES
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
PULSES
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION
VAPORS
ALKALI METALS
DISTRIBUTION
ELEMENTS
ENERGY LEVELS
FLUIDS
GASES
LASERS
METALS
PLASMA
700106* - Fusion Energy- Plasma Research- Plasma Production- (-1987)