Laser-ignited glow discharge in lithium vapor - art. no. 052707

Ignition of lithium glow discharge below self-breakdown voltage is studied for three cases of laser excitation of lithium vapor: the quasiresonant lin e at 460.3 nm (2p --> 4d), the two-photon resonant line at 639.1 nm (2s --> 3d transition), or the first resonance at 670.8 nm (2s --> 2p transition). The conditions for laser ignition of the discharge are described. The diff erences between the self-breakdown voltage and the breakdown voltage for la ser initiation of the discharge are given for different lithium number dens ities.