Utilization of self-lasing radiation for characterization of plasma discharge waveguides

Abstract

Abstract Naturally occurring self-lasing of a confined plasma discharge is used as a plasma diagnostic. Together with other readily measurable parameters such as discharge voltage and current, the laser radiation provides the necessary constraints for fitting the parameters of a plasma chemistry model. The model determines the plasma density, electron temperature and excited-state populations as functions of time and space and shows excellent agreement with experiments performed in a nitrogen-filled discharge tube. Plasma self-lasing has been observed in a form of a ring and has a plasma density profile that can be employed for optical guiding.