Corona-preionized nitrogen laser with variable pulse width

Abstract

A simple method of producing pulsed coherent radiation at 337.1 nm with variable pulse durations of 2.0–3.5 ns using a small transversely excited N2 laser is described. For laser operation in a moderately broad range of gas pressure (up to 1 atm), a weak surface corona discharge has been utilized as a preionizer. The electrical excitation is a flat plate Blumlein circuit with the main electrodes fixed at a height of 35 mm above the corona streamers. The laser produces an output peak power in excess of 70 kW at 350 Torr gas pressure and pulse repetition rate of 10–50 Hz.

Gain and saturation energy characteristics in transversely excited N2 lasers

“…Thus, it is interesting to obtain the dependencies of the g 0 and E s parameters on the operational N 2 gas pressure. 12 If we further write pd = V 0 / ͑E / p͒, and by rearranging our experimental data points, we can obtain different sets of profiles, as indicated in Fig. 5͑a͒ and 5͑b͒, where the plots of laser parameters versus the AMP gas pressure are given.…”

“…12 With this information, and the way that the electrode gap separation is acting on laser operational performances, in particular, controlling the glow discharge, it is interesting to observe the behavior of g 0 and E s parameters for different electrode separations ͓i.e., g 0 ͑d͒ and E s ͑d͔͒, in a TE N 2 -laser amplifier, under the optimal AMP operational gas pressures, where subsequently the measured laser parameters give appropriate characteristic curves relating the g 0 and E s parameters to the E / p values or the electron temperature ͑T e ͒. Operation of a laser at, for example, higher gas pressure, in addition to utilizing a suitable preionizer in the laser design, also required to reduce the electrode gap separation appropriately.…”

Modification of nitrogen Townsend ionization coefficient in a N2laser with a weak corona preionization and high gas pressure using laser output power measurements

“…In our earlier experimental study for the corona preionization in a transversely excited (TE) N 2 -laser, our measurements showed that by applying the preionization in addition to obtaining a uniform glow discharge and output power enhancement, the optimum operational gas pressure increases to higher pressures [7]. Our experimental measurements are shown in figures 1(a) and (b), where in contrast to [7], the plots of the measured average output powers are shown against the E/p-value instead of the gas pressure (E is the applied electric field in V cm −1 and p is the gas pressure in Torr). In figure 1(a), the average output Experimental measurements for both cases, (a) and (b), are as those given in [7].…”

“…Our experimental measurements are shown in figures 1(a) and (b), where in contrast to [7], the plots of the measured average output powers are shown against the E/p-value instead of the gas pressure (E is the applied electric field in V cm −1 and p is the gas pressure in Torr). In figure 1(a), the average output Experimental measurements for both cases, (a) and (b), are as those given in [7]. The measured output energies in µJ for both figures are also given in these profiles.…”

A novel technique for measuring the pulsewidth of nanosecond laser pulses

“…In the literature, most researchers have reported on the use of a combination of a fast photodiode coupled to a storage oscilloscope (or a transient-event digitizer) for the measurement of pulsewidths [3], [4]. Occasionally, an expensive streak camera may be employed [5].…”