Interaction of an optical pulsed discharge with a gas: conditions for stable generation and merging of shock waves

Abstract

The conditions under which an optical pulsed discharge stably generates periodic shock waves are determined theoretically and experimentally. It is shown that the mechanism of merging shock waves into a low-frequency quasi-stationary wave is operative in various gases (and vapours) in a wide range of laser spark energies. The application of such a wave for increasing the coupling factor in a laser engine is considered.