Effective ionization coefficients and electron drift velocities in gasmixtures of CF3I with N2 and CO2 obtained from Boltzmannequation analysis

The electron swarm parameters including the density-normalized effective ionization coefficients (α-η)/N and the electron drift velocities V_e are calculated for the gas mixture of CF₃I with N₂ and CO₂ by solving the Boltzmann equation in the condition of steady-state Townsend (SST) experiment. The overall density-reduced electric field strength is from 100 Td to 1000 Td (1 Td=10^-17 V·cm²), while the CF₃I content k in the gas mixture can be varied over the range from 0% to 100%. From the variation of (α-η)/N with the CF₃I mixture ratio k, the limiting field strength (E/N)_lim for each CF₃I concentration is derived. It is found that for the mixtures with 70% CF₃I, the values of (E/N)_lim are essentially the same as that for pure SF₆. Additionally, the global warming potential (GWP) and the liquefaction temperature of the gas mixtures are also taken into account to evaluate the possibility of applying in the gas insulation of power equipment.     

Numerical solution of Boltzmann tranport equation for TEA CO2 laser having nitrogen-lean gas mixtures to predict laser characteristics and gas lifetime

Selective laser isotope separation by TEA CO₂ laser often needs short tail-free pulses. Using laser mixtures having very little nitrogen almost tail free laser pulses can be generated. The laser pulse characteristics and its gas lifetime is an important issue for long-term laser operation. Boltzmann transport equation is therefore solved numerically for TEA CO₂ laser gas mixtures having very little nitrogen to predict electron energy distribution function (EEDF). The distribution function is used to calculate various excitation and dissociation rate of CO₂ to predict laser pulse characteristics and laser gas lifetime, respectively.Laser rate equations have been solved with the calculated excitation rates for numerically evaluated discharge current and voltage profiles to calculate laser pulse shape. The calculated laser pulse shape and duration are in good agreement with the measured laser characteristics. The gas lifetime is estimated by integrating the equation governing the dissociation of CO₂. An experimental study of gas lifetime was carried out using quadrapole mass analyzer for such mixtures to estimate the O₂ being produced due to dissociation of CO₂ in the pulse discharge. The theoretically calculated O₂ concentration in the laser gas mixture matches with experimentally observed value. In the present TEA CO₂ laser system, for stable discharge the O₂ concentration should be below 0.2%.     

Theoretical and experimental study of V–I characteristics of UV pre-ionized TEA CO2 laser for variety of laser gas mixtures

Experimental and theoretical study of V–I characteristics of UV pre-ionized TEA CO₂ laser has been carried out for a variety of gas mixtures emitting different optical pulse shapes suitable for various applications. Coupled differential equations have been solved to model the pulse excitation circuit using the numerically calculated values of ionization coefficient (α), attachment coefficient (β) and drift velocity (U_d) as functions of E/N (i.e. electric field to neutral particle density ratio) for chosen gas mixture. Calculated and experimental V–I characteristics for gas mixtures (CO₂:N₂:He::1:2:3, 1:1:4, 1:1:5 and 1:0:4.7) show a good agreement. It has been shown that gas mixture has a dominant effect on the delay between pre-ionization and main discharge; thus, determining the long-term stability of discharge. The excitation pulse duration increases with increase in molecular content of gas mixture (i.e. amount of CO₂ and N₂ in gas mixture).