Microwave and Optical Breakdowns of Gases and Field Harmonic Generation

摘要

The gas breakdown in strong electromagnetic fields of microwave and optical frequency ranges is studied. Strong fields are understood as the fields in which the electron oscillation energy exceeds the ionization potential of gas atoms, but which are still weak for field ionization of atoms. In such fields, the inelastic collision frequency of electrons is higher than the elastic collision frequency. As a result, ionization of atoms is accompanied by efficient generation of high field harmonics.