FIR absorption determination of transient electron densities in high‐pressure ionizer‐sustainer lasers

摘要

The use of cw fundamental mode optically pumped FIR lasers in determining electron density in high‐pressure electron‐beam‐initiated gas discharge lasers is outlined. Discharges in He, He‐SF6, N2, N2‐SF6, Ar, and Ar‐Xe were investigated via transmission andV‐Imeasurements with resulting thicknesses of 1016electrons/cm2, a spatial resolution of 2 cm, and a time resolution of 50 nsec. The electron density inferred from transmission and current agreed to better than 50 limited only by uncertainties in the specific spatial distribution of the electron density. The increased ir and uv laser output previously observed when small amounts of SF6were added to N2was found to be attributed to a slight increase in electron density andE/Nduring the time duration of the laser pulses.