Study of the length and influencing factors of air plasma ignition time

Abstract

When a high-energy laser acts on a film surface, plasma flashes of both the air and film can be generated simultaneously. However, when the conventional plasma flash method is used to identify thin film damage, there is a misjudgment problem caused by the inability to distinguish the air and film plasma flashes. In order to solve the problem of misjudgment, the ignition times of air and thin film plasma flashes can be obtained, respectively. If the ignition times of air and thin film plasma flashes are not equal, they can be distinguished from the time difference. In this paper, a nanosecond Nd:YAG pulse laser is used to break down the air at room temperature and pressure, and the theoretical and experimental values of the ignition time of air plasma flash are obtained. The curves of the ignition time of air plasma flash with the laser wavelength, incident energy, focusing spot, and pulse width are simulated. The reasons for the changes are analyzed from the perspectives of multiphoton absorption, cascade ionization theory, and electromagnetic theory of laser breakdown gas. The results show that when the laser pulse width is 10 ns, the energy is 160 mJ, and the spot radius is 0.015 cm. The theoretical and experimental values of the ignition time of air plasma flash are 2.146 and 2 ns, respectively, which are in good agreement. Larger values of laser focus spot size and pulse width relate to a longer ignition time of the air plasma flash, whereas larger values of laser wavelength and incident energy are related to a shorter ignition time. The research reflects the characteristics and electronic transition of air plasma, as well as the micromorphological evolution of the interaction between laser and air, presents the process of air plasma flash generation and growth, and reveals the ignition mechanism of air plasma. It not only provides a basis for improving the traditional plasma flash identification method to identify film damage but also has a certain scientific significance for studying the generation mechanism of laser-supported combustion waves and detonation waves.