Plasma breakdown behavior of hydrogen azide (HN/sub 3/) gas mixtures

Summary Form only given, as follows. Hybrid electrochemical laser systems in the ultraviolet/visible region using the highly energetic azide gases (8.5 MJ/kg) offer much potential. The concept utilizes plasma processes to initiate and sustain the chemical reactions necessary to produce the required inversions. Recent studies have shown that HN/sub 3/ is a strong electron-attaching molecule. In an attempt to better understand its plasma transport properties, its electrical breakdown behavior was investigated. There was a marked difference in the breakdown behavior for different pressures of buffer gases. With HN/sub 3/ pressures of a few torr mixed with 1 atm. of inert gas, the plasma breakdown behaviour of the original species is retained. In pure hydrogen azide gas, breakdown creates a chemical chain reaction producing very intense N/sub 2/ first and second positive band emission. In addition, the breakdown causes the molecular constituency of the gas to change from HN/sub 3/ to only H/sub 2/ and N/sub 2/. Upon completion of the plasma-initiated chain reaction, a factor-of-two pressure increase is always observed owing to the stoichiometry of the pertinent reactions. The transient spectral behavior elucidates the kinetic processes occurring in this gas.<>