Focal-length dependence of air breakdown by a 20-psec laser pulse

The focal-length f and beam-diameter D dependence of threshold power for air breakdown has been investigated using focused ∼20-psec 1.06-μ laser pulses. Primary spherical aberration is shown to be very important in determining the threshold power when D/f is large. Diffusion-type losses and self-foc...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Applied physics letters 1974-02, Vol.24 (4), p.175-177
Main Authors: Ireland, C. L. M., Yi, A., Aaron, J. M., Morgan, C. Grey
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:The focal-length f and beam-diameter D dependence of threshold power for air breakdown has been investigated using focused ∼20-psec 1.06-μ laser pulses. Primary spherical aberration is shown to be very important in determining the threshold power when D/f is large. Diffusion-type losses and self-focusing played no part in the breakdown mechanism in the present work.
ISSN:0003-6951
1077-3118
DOI:10.1063/1.1655141