1971/04/01 by David W. Koopman, Thomas D. Wilkerson · 7 citations
Physics and Astronomy · #Laser-Matter Interactions and Applications #Advanced Fiber Laser Technologies #Nonlinear Photonic Systems #Laser #Electrode #Laser beams #Beam (structure) #Optics #Electric field #Materials science #Electric discharge #SPARK (programming language) #Spark gap #Atomic physics #Physics
paper · doi:10.1063/1.1660462
openalex publication_date 1971/04/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/11
Long electrical spark discharges have been directed through air along predetermined paths defined by a concentrated laser beam. At apparent optical power densities of 50–100 giga W/cm2, 35-nsec half-width laser pulses at 10 600 Å have been effective in channeling streamer discharges from a 350-kV positively charged electrode for distances up to 28 cm in a total streamer length of 71 cm. The average E field required to obtain a discharge between electrodes was reduced from 7.3 to 5.5 kV/cm with the laser powers employed.