Plasma glow dynamics of pulsed nitrogen discharge induced by the powerful terahertz waves

We present the first results of studying a pulsed (20 μs) discharge in nitrogen, which is produced by high-power (40 kW) focused beam of terahertz (0.67 THz) waves. The time dynamics of the discharge plasma glowing is studied in a wide range of wavelengths (300-650 nm) and gas pressures (0.5-350 Torr). An assumption is made about the determining role of long-living metastables of nitrogen N
₂
(A
³
Σ
_u
⁺
) in the observed dynamics of the discharge afterglow.