Review of laser plasma electrical excitation methods - their properties, techniques, and specific applications

摘要

The most useful forms of plasma generation, including self-sustained and externally sustained classes, will be compared with respect to their physical characteristics, limitations, and specific applications for which each is best suited. Controlled avalanche discharge excitation will be emphasized, since it provides a way around foil window breakage limitations of the electron beam ionization technique, and hence it enables a further extension of lasers into extremely high average power and high repetition rate-high peak power regimes. However, special high voltage pulse forming techniques and plasma impedance matching designs are required. A few such circuits and methods will be presented. Finally, some specific applications that may be uniquely enabled by controlled avalanche ionization - including an electric discharge-based oxygen-iodine laser - will be presented.