Self-sustained volume discharge in mixtures of SF6 with hydrocarbons, hydrogen and deuterium for non-chain HF(DF) lasers

• Published in: Journal of physics. D, Applied physics Vol. 51; no. 38
• Main Authors: Belevtsev, A A, Firsov, K N, Kazantsev, S Yu, Kononov, I G, Podlesnykh, S V
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: IOP Publishing 13.08.2018
• Subjects: current density restriction mechanism; electrochemical non-chain HF(DF) lasers; self-sustained volume discharge
• ISSN: 0022-3727; 1361-6463
• DOI: 10.1088/1361-6463/aad41c

This paper reports on the comprehensive studies on a self-sustained volume discharge in SF6-based working media for electrochemical non-chain hydrogen fluoride (deuterium fluoride) lasers. The majority of the experimental results have first been obtained at various values of gas pressure for the discharge gaps with a large interelectrode distance, including plane electrode systems with a strong enhancement of the edge electric field. Some special features of the observed physical phenomena are explained using the developed adequate mathematical models. In particular, a radically new mechanism of the ionization instability in SF6-based mixtures at an intermediate pressure has been first considered and a relevant mathematical theory was developed. On this basis, the experimentally observable break-up of the discharge current into separate filaments in a laser-heated SF6-mixture was qualitatively explained. Some practical applications and recommendations have also been drawn from the performed studies.