TEA CO 2 laser induced breakdown versus selective photochemistry in C 2F 5H and C 2F 5H/C 2F 5T mixtures

Abstract

In the context of laser separation of tritium isotope using C 2F 5T in mixtures with C 2F 5H, we have studied the laser induced dielectric breakdown (LIDB) as a function of the system pressure using 10.6 μm radiation of a TEA CO 2 laser. By taking also into account our isotope selective results, we have found that LIDB does not imply difficulties by affecting the laser selective process. Analysis of the experimental results shows that LIDB works by cascade ionization and the recombination constitutes the major loss process. The LIDB threshold fluence Φ th for the tritiated mixture was found to be lower than the corresponding value in pure C 2F 5H indicating preionization in the medium due to β emission of tritium.