Decay of the pulsed-laser gas-discharge plasma in nitrogen

A simplified model of the N2 single-pulse laser studied by Irmer (1978) is developed to investigate theoretically the time evolution of the concentration and temperature of the plasma components during the first second after the discharge. Initial parameters include cavity size 60 cm x 1 cm (diameter), N2 pressure 10 kPa (corresponding to molecular number density 2.7 x 10 to the 18th/cu cm), pulse duration 10 ns, pulse energy 3 J, and mean energy density 400 PeV/cu cm. The results are presented in graphs and tables; the process of deionization, nitrogen association, metastable-molecule deexcitation, vibrational-energy relaxation, and temperature increase are characterized; and the effects of the nondecayed plasma components on the following discharge during periodic operation of the laser are examined.