Segmented ballasted electrodes for a large-volume, sub-atmospheric, transversely excited pulsed laser

Watson, I. A. and Chatwin, C. R. (1995) Segmented ballasted electrodes for a large-volume, sub-atmospheric, transversely excited pulsed laser. Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics, 28(2), pp. 258-268. (doi: 10.1088/0022-3727/28/2/006)

Full text not currently available from Enlighten.

Publisher's URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0022-3727/28/2/006

Abstract

Two prototype ballasted electrodes were fabricated and tested with a large-volume, reduced pressure, pulsed CO2 laser gas discharge, initiated by corona pre-ionization, and pumped by pulse widths up to 19 mu s. The design of segmented, ballasted cathodes is considered and equations are derived to quantify the degree of discharge arcing given partial collapse of the discharge. The number of segments passing the fault current was experimentally investigated as a function of the discharge power and found to increase until each segment passed the fault current. Compared with a planar-planar electrode geometry, under identical pulse excitation conditions, the ballast electrodes gave a factor of four improvement in the maximum discharge power depositions, prior to the development of instabilities. Higher frequencies were obtained with pulse trains below 50 ms, the maximum observed frequency being approximately 5 kHz. Arcing for the ballasted electrode configurations was observed in the middle of the electrodes, and its position corresponded to a measured non-uniform gas velocity.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Watson, Dr Ian and Chatwin, Prof Christopher
Authors: Watson, I. A., and Chatwin, C. R.
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Systems Power and Energy
Journal Name:Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics
Publisher:IOP Publishing Ltd
ISSN:0022-3727
ISSN (Online):1361-6463

University Staff: Request a correction | Enlighten Editors: Update this record