The influence of electron density on the formation of streamers in electrical discharges triggered with ultrashort laser pulses

被引:56
作者
La Fontaine, B [1 ]
Vidal, F
Comtois, D
Chien, CY
Desparois, A
Johnston, TW
Kieffer, JC
Mercure, HP
Pépin, H
Rizk, FAM
机构
[1] Univ Quebec, Inst Natl Rech Sci Energie & MAteriaux, Varennes, PQ J3X 1S2, Canada
[2] Inst Rech Hydro Quebec, Varennes, PQ J3X 1S1, Canada
基金
加拿大自然科学与工程研究理事会;
关键词
laser; lightning; streamer; ultrashort;
D O I
10.1109/27.774673
中图分类号
O35 [流体力学]; O53 [等离子体物理学];
学科分类号
070204 ; 080103 ; 080704 ;
摘要
In an ongoing program using ultrashort laser pulses to provoke discharges in air over considerable distances at electric fields below breakdown threshold, me have studied the conditions for the onset of streamers in such laser-produced plasmas, both experimentally and through numerical simulations. The results demonstrate the importance of the electron density and of its gradient on the generation of streamers. Also, a significant reduction of the breakdown voltage for a 30-cm plane-plane gap in air was observed with a laser pulse energy of 15 mJ, Finally, a direct comparison of laser-induced breakdown in air and in nitrogen shows the influence of electron attachment to oxygen on the discharge process.
引用
收藏
页码:688 / 700
页数:13
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