The influence of electron density on the formation of streamers in electrical discharges triggered with ultrashort laser pulses

Author

La Fontaine, Bruno ; Vidal, François ; Comtois, Daniel ; Chien, Ching-Yuan ; Desparois, Alain ; Johnston, Tudor Wyatt ; Kieffer, Jean-Claude ; Mercure, Hubert P. ; Pépin, Henri ; Rizk, Farouk A.M.

Author_Institution

INRS-Energie, Varennes, Que., Canada

Volume

27

Issue

3

fYear

1999

fDate

6/1/1999 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

688

Lastpage

700

Abstract

In an ongoing program using ultrashort laser pulses to provoke discharges in air over considerable distances at electric fields below breakdown threshold, we have studied the conditions for the onset of streamers in such laser-produced plasmas, both experimentally and through numerical simulations. The results demonstrate the importance of the electron density and of its gradient on the generation of streamers. Also, a significant reduction of the breakdown voltage for a 30 cm plane-plane gap in air was observed with a laser pulse energy of 15 mJ. Finally, a direct comparison of laser-induced breakdown in air and in nitrogen shows the influence of electron attachment to oxygen on the discharge process

Keywords

discharges (electric); electron density; plasma density; plasma production by laser; plasma simulation; air discharges; breakdown threshold; breakdown voltage; electric fields; electrical discharges; electron attachment; electron density; laser pulse energy; laser-induced breakdown; lightning; numerical simulations; plane-plane gap; streamer onset; ultrashort laser pulses; Electric breakdown; Electrons; Fault location; Laser theory; Lightning; Nitrogen; Numerical simulation; Optical pulses; Plasma density; Plasma simulation;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Plasma Science, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0093-3813

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/27.774673

Filename

774673