THE NEXT GENERATION OF CONTROLLED AVALANCHE DISCHARGE LASERS―INCLUDING AN EXTENSION TO THE ELECTRIC OXYGEN IODINE LASER

摘要

Physical characteristics and attributes of alternative types of large volume, medium to high pressure, electric discharges are compared with relevance to gas laser excitation and other applications which require similar plasma conditions. Over time, applications have become more numerous and fruitful as discharge technology has advanced from the self-sustained glow to the externally sustained electron-beam ionized discharge, and more recently to the controlled-avalanche discharge. Criteria are presented which suggest the best field of use for each class of discharge technology discussed. The controlled avalanche discharge is just beginning to emerge onto the broad fields of application prescribed herein, so it is the intention of this paper to provide some examples of its application and pulse-power methodologies which may not be broadly understood but which are necessary for implementation. More specifically, twenty-first century applications will require multi kilojoule pulsed lasers operating at hundreds of pps repetition rate. Specific design examples will demonstrate that controlled avalanche discharge-based lasers are often best suited to meet these new challenges. Most relevant, a concept of an electric-based oxygen iodine laser is overviewed for the first time by the author in the open literature. Controlled avalanche discharge technology makes this application possible.