Particle-in-Cell Model of a Laser-Triggered Spark Gap

• Published in: IEEE transactions on plasma science Vol. 34; no. 5; pp. 1640 - 1645
• Main Authors: Worts, E.J., Kovaleski, S.D.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY IEEE 01.10.2006; Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Atmospheric modeling; Conductivity; Decay; Electric fields; Electric resistance; Electrodes; Exact sciences and technology; Gas lasers; Gases; Ionization; Ionization of plasmas; Laser modes; Lasers; Mathematical models; Parallel plates; Particle in cell technique; Particle-in-cell (PIC) model; Particle-in-cell method; Physics; Physics of gases, plasmas and electric discharges; Physics of plasmas and electric discharges; Plasma density; Plasma devices; Plasma properties; Plasma simulation; Pressure; Simulation; spark gap; Spark gaps; streamer; Streamer formation; Switches; Spark gaps; Particle in cell method; Electric discharges; Theoretical study; spark gap; Plasma devices; Gasfilled spark gap; Neon; Initial conditions; Streamer; Ionization; Laser plasma interaction; Triggered spark gap; PIC model; Index Tenns-Particle-in-cell (PIC) model; Triggering; Parallel plate
• ISSN: 0093-3813; 1939-9375
• DOI: 10.1109/TPS.2006.881887

A particle-in-cell simulation of the streamer formation process in a laser-triggered spark gap has been developed to estimate streamer radius and conductivity under a variety of conditions. The motivation for developing the model was to understand the initial conditions of the switching arc in a laser-triggered spark gap, with the goal of accelerating the resistive decay of the arc. In a parallel plate switch configuration with dimensions of 0.6 mm times 0.3 mm, the electric field was varied from 2 to 5 MV/m, the gas pressure was varied from 1 to 1.5 atm, and the gas type was varied between Ar and Ne. The laser triggering parameters, including the laser ionization rate (from 5 to 20middot10 18 s -1 ), laser spot area (from 1200 to 4800 mum 2 ), and laser spot orientation relative to the electric field, were also varied. The electric field had a large influence on radius, increasing it by 19% with increasing field, and on conductivity, resulting in a 285% increase with increasing field. Among the laser triggering parameters, a linear focal spot-oriented transverse relative to the electric field direction was observed to produce a very large increase in streamer radius