Abstract: | Nitrogen laser performance with TE configuration and wedge electrodes is analyzed with background ionization in the laser
discharge channel by α particles at a low exposition rate. With the bias ionization, the laser power presents two peaks as a function of gas pressure,
with one at the normal low pressure, without bias ionization, and the other at high pressure generated by bias ionization.
A simple theoretical model has been developed in a trial to understand this behavior. This model was first tested in later
results for a TE configuration nitrogen laser, with flat electrodes, without and with bias ionization. It has been observed
that due to the competition between electrode shielding by positively charged α particles and bulk ionization by impact, the laser energy is suppressed with pressure below 50 Torr and enhanced above it. |