The influence of the external circuit on arc-discharge of a spark-gap: its application to a pulsed gas laser

An investigation of the influence of the driving circuit on the arc-discharge of a spark-gap takes place in this work. The two most common types of circuits used in pulsed gas lasers have been studied for all possible combinations of capacitance allocation. In these circuits the spark-gap is used as ignition system and participates in the electric circuit through its resistance and inductance. This consideration shows that capacitances act as charge containers and feed the arc-discharge in the spark-gap independently of their positions in the circuit. Their values influence the total charge contained in the arc discharge and this, in its turn, influences the discharge resistance. On the other hand, total charge flows through the discharge at a rate determined by the coupling of the circuit loops, namely, by the circuit type. Thus, circuit type influences the drift velocity and this, in its turn, influences the channel radius, which determines the discharge inductance