Molecular gas breakdown by short laser pulses

Abstract

Considers the simultaneous effect of the processes of multiphoton and cascade ionisation in producing ionisation and breakdown molecular gases under the influence of three different short-flash lasers of wavelengths 0.6943 mu m, 1.06 mu m and 0.53 mu m with pulse durations 18 ps, 7 ps and 25 ps respectively. The gas was studied over a pressure range of 1-10⁵ Torr. The results of this work can be used to interpret experiments on breakdown of molecular gases by short duration laser pulses of ruby and Nd³⁺ lasers.