Characteristics of Gas Breakdown in Hollow-Core Fibers

Author

Shi, X. ; Wang, X.B. ; Jin, W. ; Demokan, M.S.

Author_Institution

Hong Kong Polytech. Univ., Hong Kong

Volume

20

Issue

8

fYear

2008

fDate

4/15/2008 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

650

Lastpage

652

Abstract

We succeeded in obtaining gas discharge in 250-, 150-, and 50-mum inner-diameter (i.d.) hollow-core fibers (HCFs) by using longitudinal direct current excitation. Stable glow discharges of at least several minutes were observed for these HCFs. A flash glow was also observed for an HCF with an i.d. of ~20 mum. Breakdown of helium and argon gases in a 26.2-cm-long 250-mum-i.d. HCF was achieved with a voltage of less than 30 kV. Breakdown voltages of helium and argon gases were measured for various bore sizes, fiber lengths, and a pressure range from below 1 to 50 Torr. Experimental results deviated from previous theoretical models and further theoretical and experimental investigations are needed to understand the unique characteristics of gas-discharge in HCFs with i.d. below 250 mum.

Keywords

argon; fibre lasers; gas lasers; glow discharges; helium; optical fibres; Ar; He; argon breakdown voltages; flash glow; gas breakdown; gas discharge; glow discharges; helium breakdown voltages; hollow-core fibers; longitudinal direct current excitation; size 150 mum; size 250 mum; size 50 mum; Argon; Boring; Electric breakdown; Gases; Glow discharges; Helium; Length measurement; Pressure measurement; Size measurement; Voltage; Fiber laser; gas breakdown; gas laser; glow discharge; hollow-core fiber (HCF);

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Photonics Technology Letters, IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1041-1135

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/LPT.2008.919464

Filename

4476460