Laser-Induced Electric Breakdown of Krypton in the UV–Near IR Spectral Region

• DOI: 10.1007/s10812-015-0152-6
• Publication Date: 2015-09-18T09:42:06Z
• Authors: E. Yu. Loktionov; N. A. Pasechnikov; Yu. S. Protasov; Yu. Yu. Protasov; V. D. Telekh
• Keywords: 0103 physical sciences; 01 natural sciences; 7. Clean energy

We have experimentally studied combination breakdown (electric and optical breakdown or electro-optical breakdown) of krypton under low vacuum (p ~ 101 to 105 Pa) during simultaneous exposure to nanosecond laser pulses (λ ~ 213, 266, 355, 532, 1064 nm, τ 0.5 ~ 18 ns, I 0 ~ 109 to 1011 J/cm2) and a constant electric field (E ~ 0–13.2 kV/cm). We have demonstrated a substantial change in the ratio of the optical and electric components of the breakdown threshold I 0 (E) for different gas pressures and photon energies, as well as the presence of a synergistic effect, manifested in the many-fold decrease in the threshold values for the components of the combination treatment. The results obtained can be used to assess the breakdown processes in gas-discharge devices.