Investigation of the influence of the discharge medium on the characteristics of laser-radiation-triggered discharge gaps

The results are presented of investigations of new cerment discharge gaps, having operating voltages of 9–7 and 20–16 kV and filled with various gas mixtures (argon and nitrogen, pure nitrogen). The dependences are given of the delays in firing the gaps, as a function of the voltage on the electrodes and of the energy of the laser pulses used for triggering (λ = 1.06 μ). The minimum triggering energy of the type 1 discharge gaps was 2 μJ, when using a radiation pulse having τ_rad = 70 nsec. The rise time of the voltage pulse produced was 0.5 nsec. The discharge gaps were used to control electrooptic switches in laser systems. A study was made of the radiation produced during the breakdown of the discharge gaps. The radiation pulse had a flat top and a rise time of ≤ 1.5 nsec.