Femtosecond laser guiding of a high-voltage discharge and the restoration of dielectric strength in air and nitrogen

The use of a low energy, high peak intensity femtosecond laser pulse is investigated for guiding and control of a sub-microsecond high voltage discharge. Study of the early streamer formation and measurements of the field required for breakdown in air and nitrogen are presented. Direct imaging of the breakdown discharge and effective laser guiding are shown to be critically dependent on the laser focusing geometry, timing, and location relative to the electrodes. © 2012 by S. Leonov, JIHT RAS, and R. Miles, Princeton University. Published by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc.

Leonov, S. B., Firsov, A. A., Shurupov, M. A., Michael, J. B., Shneider, M. N., Miles, R. B., & Popov, N. A.

Femtosecond laser guiding of a high-voltage discharge and the restoration of dielectric strength in air and nitrogen Conference Paper