Relaxation of the pulsed opto-galvanic current signal in a helium positive column

Transient behaviour of an opto-galvanic (OG) current signal induced by pulsed dye laser excitation has been investigated on the He I 388.9-nm (2³S-3³P) transition in a He positive column. The OG current signal is composed of a sharp spike at the early time stage followed by a slowly-varying component. The decay time of the sharp OG current signal has been found to be almost independent of the dc current substaining the discharge and to depend sensitivity on a product of pressure and column-radius. The experimental results show that the dominant decay process of the OG current consists in an ion current to the walls, as has been previously referred to in a mmodel of a cw OG effect in a He positive column. A model for the pulse OG effect in the early time stage is presented on the basis of the experimental results. The decay times of the OG current signals calculated with the model are in agreement with the measurements within an accuracy of 30%.