X-ray initiated high pressure glow discharges

Abstract

Pulsed x rays with a dosage of 1–2 mrad/pulse at a mean energy of ∼50 keV are shown to be capable of initiating glow discharges in various gas mixtures up to and above atmospheric pressure. dc voltages (up to 32 kV) have been switched in this way to form glow discharges in CO2, N2, He, and their mixtures with the resulting generation of 10.6-μm laser radiation when an appropriate cavity was used.