Formation of ball streamers at a subnanosecond breakdown of gases at a high pressure in a nonuniform electric field

The formation of a diffuse discharge plasma at a subnanosecond breakdown of a “cone–plane” gap filled with air, nitrogen, methane, hydrogen, argon, neon, and helium at various pressures has been studied. Nanosecond negative and positive voltage pulses have been applied to the conical electrode. The experimental data on the dynamics of plasma glow at the stage of formation and propagation of a streamer have been obtained with intensified charge-coupled device and streak cameras. It has been found that the formation of ball streamers is observed in all gases and at both polarities. A supershort avalanche electron beam has been detected behind the flat foil electrode in a wide range of pressures in the case of a negatively charged conical electrode. A mechanism of the formation of streamers at breakdown of various gases at high overvoltages has been discussed.     

激光大气击穿阈值的数值分析

 针对大气中飞行器的等离子体隐身问题,数值计算了ns量级强激光击穿大气的阈值,讨论了一些相关条件对阈值的影响。结果表明：对于ns量级的入射激光,波长越长,大气的击穿阈值越小;气压越大,击穿阈值也越小;气体中存在的初始电子对不易产生光电离的长波长入射激光的击穿阈值,有明显的减少作用,但对短波长入射激光的击穿阈值几乎没有影响;脉宽越宽,激光辐照的时间越长,大气击穿的阈值越小。     

Modeling the triggering of streamers in air by ultrashort laserpulses

The physical processes involved in the triggering of ionization waves (streamers) by ultrashort laser pulses, focused in air at 350 Torr and in a uniform electric field, are investigated by means of a one-dimensional (1-D) numerical model. The model describes the interaction of the laser pulse with air and takes into account many of the reactions in the laser-created plasma as well as the radial expansion of the plasma. Consequences of the model are that the threshold electric field for the appearance of streamers is an increasing function of the delay between the laser pulse and the electric field pulse and a decreasing function of the laser energy. Also, it appears that the electron temperature, the plasma density and radius, and the conduction of heat across the plasma boundaries play major roles in the capacity of the laser-created plasma to trigger streamers. The results of the model are compared with the available experimental data     

The control of lightning using lasers: properties of streamers and leaders in the presence of laser-produced ionization

This paper summarizes the research this team has performed over the past few years investigating laboratory electrical breakdown discharges in the presence of a plasma cylinder created by a single ultrashort laser pulse. This work is part of a feasibility study about the control of lightning using laser systems. Our experimental investigations have included discharges (i) in modest (30 cm) air gaps mediated by streamers, and (ii) in large (several meters) ambient air gaps for which the discharge took place through the formation of a leader, the mechanism relevant to large scale natural discharges such as lightning. In order to understand the observations, various physical models have been used, the main results of which are discussed in this paper. To cite this article: F. Vidal et al., C. R. Physique 3 (2002) 1361–1374.     

气体压强对纳秒激光诱导空气等离子体特性的影响

环境气体的压强对激光诱导等离子体特性有重要影响.基于发射光谱法开展了气体压强对纳秒激光诱导空气等离子体特性影响的研究,探讨了气体压强对空气等离子体发射光谱强度、电子温度和电子密度的影响.实验结果表明,在10-100 kPa空气压强条件下,空气等离子体发射光谱中的线状光谱和连续光谱依赖于气体压强变化,且原子谱线和离子谱线强度随气体压强的变化有明显差别.随着空气压强增大,激光击穿作用区域的空气密度增加,造成激光诱导击穿空气几率升高,从而等离子体辐射光谱强度增大.空气等离子体膨胀区域空气的约束作用,增加了等离子体内粒子间的碰撞几率以及能量交换几率,并且使离子-电子-原子的三体复合几率增加,因此造成原子谱线OⅠ777.2 nm与NⅠ821.6 nm谱线强度随着气体压强增大而增大,在80 kPa时谱线强度最高,随后谱线强度缓慢降低.而离子谱线N Ⅱ 500.5 nm谱线强度在40 kPa时达到最大值,气体压强大于40 kPa后,谱线强度随压强增加而逐渐降低.空气等离子体电子密度均随压强升高而增大,在80 kPa后增长速度变缓.等离子体电子温度在30 kPa时达到最大值,气体压强大于30 kPa后,等离子体电子温度逐渐降低.研究结果可为不同海拔高度的激光诱导空气等离子体特性的研究提供重要实验基础,为今后激光大气传输、大气组成分析提供重要的技术支持.     

Interferometric diagnostics of femtosecond laser microplasma in gases

The laser plasma formed in gaseous media due to their optical breakdown under tightly focused femtosecond laser pulses has been experimentally investigated. Pump-probemicrointerferometry is chosen to perform spatial and temporal diagnostics of the plasma. Time dependences of the laser plasma electron density are obtained. It is shown that in breakdown of different gases (air, nitrogen, argon, and helium) at different pressures (in the range from 1 to 10 atm) the electron concentration continues to increase during ??1 ps when the laser irradiation is over. This effect is related to the impact ionization of the plasma by the hot electrons formed in interaction of intense femtosecond laser pulses with matter. The results of theoretical simulation of the post-ionization processes are presented.     

双飞秒激光脉冲诱导击穿光谱增强特性研究

在大气环境中,以钴为样品,通过单脉冲飞秒激光诱导击穿光谱及共轴双飞秒脉冲激光诱导击穿光谱的对比实验,研究了双脉冲激光诱导击穿光谱的谱线增强机制,测量了双脉冲激光诱导击穿光谱随脉冲时间间隔的变化趋势。结果表明,在最优化的脉冲时间间隔条件下,双脉冲激光诱导等离子体光谱获得明显增强。进一步,通过线性Boltzmann法得出了电子温度随脉冲时间间隔的演化,发现了谱线增强因子和电子温度随脉冲时间间隔呈现出相同的演化趋势,并经历两个明显的变化过程,得出了谱线信号强度的增强依赖于电子温度升高的结论。     

Triggering and guiding of high voltage discharge by using femtosecond laser filaments with different parameters

This paper demonstrates the triggering and guiding of the stationary high voltage (HV) discharges at 5--40 kV by using plasma filaments generated by femtosecond laser pulses in air. A significant reduction of the breakdown voltage threshold due to the pre-ionization of the air gap by laser filamentation is observed. The discharge experiments are performed by using laser pulses with different energy from 15--60 mJ. The electron density of filaments is detected by sonography method. The influence of the electron density of laser filaments on the triggering and guiding HV discharge is experimentally investigated. The results have shown that the behaviour of plasma filaments can strongly affect the efficiency of triggering and guiding HV discharge.     

Electron-microscopy investigations of the damage of aluminium mirrors as a result of repeated powerful microsecond pulsed TEA-CO2 laser irradiation in air

Progressive damage of aluminium mirrors subjected to microsecond pulsed TEA-CO₂ laser irradiation in air, at incident intensity levels lower than the thresholds for melting induction and air breakdown ignition, was evidenced by electron microscopy investigations. A simple model was developed accounting for the results of our experimental studies.     

Influence of distances between the lens and the target on the characteristic of laser induced lead plasma

The influence of distances between the lens and a pure lead target on the breakdown spectroscopy of plasmas induced by a Nd:YAG laser ablation was studied at atmospheric pressure. The electron density, the electron temperature and the self-absorption were analysed when the distances were less than the focal length (6.5 cm). The maximal electron density presented at the point 5.8 cm. Moreover, the self-absorption can be observed in all of the wave ranges when the distances are more than the focal length. This phenomenon can be understood by the air breakdown.     

Interferometric measurement for the plasma produced by a Q-switched laser in air near the surface of an Al target

An analysis the plasma produced by a Q-switched laser in air near the surface of an Al target and a series of M-Z interferograms for the production and growth of the plasma for different delay time are reported. The causes of optical breakdown and calculated the electron density distribution in the plasma is also discussed.     

High-Intensity CO2 Laser Breakdown of Low-Pressure Gas

We have performed CO2 interferometry measurements to characterize the high-intensity (1 ? 1.0 × 1014 W/cm2) CO2 laser breakdown in low-pressure (0.4 torr < P < 2.0 torr) dry air and demonstrate that this plasma can be used for beat wave accelerator studies. The plasma has a diameter and axial length of 0.2 mm and 2.0 mm, respectively, slightly greater than the focal diameter and depth of focus of the focusing optics. Peak electron density corresponds to partial ionization ( = 3, ne = 1.0 × 1017 cm-3) at low pressure (P = 0.4-0.5 torr) increasing to full ionization (Z = 7.2) at P > 1.0 torr. A theoretical model of laser breakdown provides insight into the time evolution of the electron density.     

激光诱导击穿空气等离子体时间分辨特性的光谱研究

空气等离子体的时间行为对空气环境下激光诱导等离子体形成过程的研究有重要意义.本文将纳秒Nd:YAG脉冲激光(1064 nm)聚焦于一个大气压的空气中,诱导其产生等离子体.利用具有纳秒时间分辨功能的PI-MAX-II型ICCD,采用时间分辨光谱方法,研究了大气环境下激光诱导等离子体的时间行为.大气环境下的激光诱导等离子体光谱广泛分布于300—900 nm范围内,并且是由带状光谱和线状光谱叠加而成的.根据美国国家标准与技术研究院原子发射谱线数据库,对等离子体光谱中的氧、氮、氢等元素的特征谱线进行了识别和归属.给出了激光诱导击穿大气等离子体光谱随时间演化的直观图像,根据空气等离子体发射谱线计算了等离子体电子温度和等离子体电子密度.这些结果对于提高在大气环境下进行的在线测量结果的准确性和精确性具有重要的科学意义.     

Mechanism for propagation of a positive leader

A model of leader breakdown in air is considered. The channel is formed due to heating of the streamer trace in the field of the streamer zone. A previous model of a streamer is generalized with allowance for recombination of charged particles. A mathematical model of heating of the streamer trace is developed. It is demonstrated that, at a given potential, the ignition of the channel is provided by streamers that possess a certain charge and the corresponding propagation velocity. This velocity determines the propagation velocity of a steady leader. The dependence of the leader velocity on the cloud potential is found. The results obtained are compared with the data from in-situ observations and laboratory studies.     

3-Dimensional simulation and footprint of optical breakdown in dielectrics induced by femtosecond laser pulse

In this paper dynamics of optical breakdown process in dielectrics induced by femtosecond laser pulses have been simulated numerically. Using rate equations, the dynamics of free electron density in the focusing region during a few laser pulse duration time was studied numerically. Sources of free electron production as well as sinks of electron reduction in the interacting region were considered in the calculations. In the simulation, the propagation of the laser beam through the focusing volume was also taken into account and the footprint of the breakdown process (as an estimation for medium bulk damage) was simulated 3-dimensionally. The temporal and spatial evolution of free electron density has been used for simulating the 3-dimensional footprint of optical breakdown region. The results show that the dynamics of the breakdown footprint (and volume) strongly depends on the laser and medium characteristics.     

超短脉冲激光在电介质材料中传输及破坏深度微观理论计算

基于Fokker-Planck方程和激光传输方程建立超短脉冲激光在电介质材料中的传输及材料破坏理论模型,计算材料内不同位置处导带电子数密度及激光电场强度随时间的变化,进而得到激光的反射率、透射率及沉积率随激光能量密度的变化特征.选取导带电子数密度阈值作为材料破坏的判断条件,计算了不同激光能量密度下的破坏深度,发现破坏深度随激光能量密度的变化曲线呈现先增长后减小,讨论了激光能量沉积特性对破坏深度的影响.计算最大破坏深度随激光脉宽的变化发现,激光脉宽越短则最大破坏深度越小. 关键词： 超短脉冲激光 电介质材料 破坏深度 微观理论模型     

Spatial characterization of laser-induced sparks in air

Images and emission spectra of sparks produced by laser-induced breakdown in air were investigated as functions of the laser energy and optical configuration. The laser-induced breakdown was generated by focusing a 532-nm nanosecond pulse from a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser. The data were collected using an intensified CCD camera and a Cassegrain optics system coupled to an ICCD spectrometer. The results provided information about the first stages of laser-induced spark breakdown. Good reproducibility of the plasma location and shape was observed; these parameters depended largely on the optical configuration and plasma energy absorption rate. The high spatial resolution of the Cassegrain optics system was used to observe different ionization levels in the plasma kernel, which confirmed the electron cascade mechanism for plasma formation. The different ionization levels partially explained the asymmetry of the ignition induced by the plasma generation in gaseous mixture. Backward propagation of the plasma along the laser path was observed using the high spatial and temporal resolution of the experimental apparatus. The propagation was largely due to the thickness of the plasma relative to the laser wavelength, which created different ionization levels and energy absorption rates throughout the plasma. This observation was correlated with images obtained using the ICCD camera.     

高功率微波脉冲大气击穿概率研究

高功率微波大气击穿实验中,入射功率在大气击穿阈值附近,即使外界条件相同,大气击穿可能发生也可能不发生。针对这一问题,基于大气击穿机理,将大气击穿分为首个电子出现在击穿区域和高功率微波电场导致雪崩击穿两个过程。针对第一个过程,建立了改进的电子连续性方程,引入平均电子产生率分析大气击穿发生前电子出现的概率问题;针对第二个过程,建立了高功率微波大气雪崩击穿概率模型。综合两个过程,建立了高功率微波大气击穿概率模型,仿真了不同压强条件下大气击穿的概率,并与相关实验数据进行了比对,仿真结论与实验数据吻合较好。     

Mechanism of branching in negative ionization fronts

When a strong electric field is applied to nonconducting matter, narrow channels of plasma called streamers may form. Branchlike patterns of streamers have been observed in anode directed discharges. We explain a mechanism for branching as the result of a balance between the destabilizing effect of impact ionization and the stabilizing effect of electron diffusion on ionization fronts. The dispersion relation for transversal perturbation of a planar negative front is obtained analytically when the ratio D between the electron diffusion coefficient and the intensity of the externally imposed electric field is small. We estimate the spacing lambda between streamers and deduce a scaling law lambda approximately D(1/3).     

光电离速率影响大气压空气正流注分支的机理研究

大气压空气中的流注放电有广泛的理论和应用研究价值,包括雷电机理、输变电系统空气绝缘理论以及材料表面改性等.流注是一个快速发展的强电离区域,在传播过程中存在着一种重要的特点—分支现象.光电离为正流注发展提供必要的自由电子,且实验结果表明分支特征与流注头部的光电离速率密切相关.本文基于新的流注分支判据,采用了粒子网格单元与蒙特卡罗碰撞相结合(PIC-MCC)的三维放电模型(Pamdi3D)进行数值仿真验证.为了研究光电离速率对正流注分支的影响,仿真了毫米尺度间隙针-板电极正流注发展,系统研究了不同光电离参数的影响.当减小氮气-氧气比例、光子吸收截面或光电离效率系数后,流注均更早地出现分支现象.这些计算结果表明大气压空气中流注头部光电离速率的降低将导致其发生分支的概率更高.