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Even though UV laser pulses that irradiate a gas discharge are small compared to the plasma volume (≲3%) and plasma-on time (≲6 × 10−6%), they are found to dramatically change the discharge characteristics on a global scale. The reactive argon–acetylene plasma allows the growth of nanoparticles with diameters up to 1 μm, which are formed inside the discharge volume due to spontaneous polymerization reactions. It is found that the laser pulses predominantly accelerate and enhance the coagulation phase and are able to suppress the formation of a dust void.

A new approach for an in-line beam monitor for ionizing radiation was introduced in a recent publication (Beckers J et al 2018 J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 52 034004). Due to the recent detection and investigation of an additional third decay regime of the afterglow of an extreme ultraviolet photon-induced plasma described in a later article (Platier B et al 2020 Appl. Phys. Lett. 116 103703) there is an additional reason for a minimum number of photons for this approach to work. Near or below this threshold, we explain that the response time of the diagnostic method is a limiting factor. Further, a second limit for the number of photons within a pulse is formalized related to the trapping of highly energetic free electrons.