Photodetachment as a Control Mechanism for Diffuse Discharge Switches

Photodetachment is considered as a control mechanism for diffuse discharge switches. Experiments have been performed on photodetachment of ions in the flowing afterglow of a dc glow discharge in oxygen. Experiments with different laser wavelengths and the dependence of the optogalvanic signal on the laser energy flux indicate that O- is the dominant negative ion. For an energy flux of 35 mJ/cm2, 50percent of the O- ions can be photodetached.