EXCITATION OF WAVE PATTERNS IN AN INFRARED-VISIBLE CONVERTER

By studying the non-stationary transport properties of a semiconductor gas discharge (SGD) structure used for the spatial and temporal conve rsion of infrared radiation into the visible wavelength range, we obse rved the phenomena of spontaneously excited ionization waves under str ong light excitation of the converter structure. The waves propagate n ormal to the electric current flow and, by increasing the supply volta ge, their velocity increases and can exceed that of acoustic waves in the gas filled region of the structure. Wave interaction is also found to be followed by interference effects. This dynamical instability of the homogeneous state can probably be explained by a nonlinear oscill ator model.