Accession Number:
ADA022564
Title:
Investigation of Ultraviolet Photoionization Sustained Discharge for Gas Lasers
Descriptive Note:
Semiannual technical rept. no. 6, 1 Jul-31 Dec 1975
Corporate Author:
HUGHES RESEARCH LABS MALIBU CA
Personal Author(s):
Report Date:
1976-03-01
Pagination or Media Count:
105.0
Abstract:
The objectives of this program are to investigate and improve ultraviolet uv photoionization plasma conditioning techniques, to perform the demonstration of a uv sustained electrical discharge atmospheric pressure CO2 laser, and to establish scalability limits. Initially, fundamental experiments employing small scale discharge volumes established that in excess of 200 J1- atm could be input to 1 atm CO2 laser mixture by the uv photoionization of an added low ionization potential organic molecule. These and additional experiments led to conjectures for mixture mean-free paths for certain critical CO2, N2, He tri-n-propylamine mixture ratios on the order of 8 cm. Power extraction and small signal gain measurements were undertaken. The limits of scalability of the uv sustained plasma conditioning technique are being addressed. A scaling model for the uv-sustained laser has been developed. Using the model, predictions of the characteristics of a high average power uv- sustained laser have been made.
Descriptors:
Subject Categories:
- Radiation and Nuclear Chemistry
- Lasers and Masers