SELF-CONSISTENT MODELING OF X-RAY PREIONIZED XECL-LASER DISCHARGES

In this theoretical work a 0-D model for a self-sustained X-ray preion ized XeCl-laser discharge is presented. The model is self-consistent i n the sense that it simultaneously solves, contrarily to the usual dec oupling procedure, the Boltzmann equation for electrons, the kinetic e quations for excited and ionic species, the equations for the electric al circuit and the laser photon density. It includes a rather complete kinetics of HCl(v) vibrational excitation, dissociation and dissociat ive attachment. The influence of electron collisions with excited spec ies and of e-e Coulomb collisions on the plasma parameters and transpo rt coefficients is discussed. Some evidence of the non-stationary equi librium between the electron distribution and the reduced electric fie ld E/N is given. Results of the model are compared with experimental o nes corresponding to a XeCl-laser discharge driven by a L-C inversion circuit. The model predicts well the main trends for the variation of the laser energy in a large range of experimental conditions. The disc repancy between experiment and model for absolute values of the laser energy is discussed.