Time resolved imaging study of phototriggered discharges in SF/sub 6/ and Ne/SF/sub 6/ mixtures

The spatial dynamic of phototriggered discharges in SF/sub 6/ and Ne/SF/sub 6/ mixtures has been studied through gated intensified charge-coupled device camera measurements correlated to current and voltage measurements. Physical mechanisms involved in discharge instabilities, which limit performance of discharge pumped HF/DF lasers using H/sub 2/ or D/sub 2/, are under investigation. It Is shown that the high cathodic emission intensity and the discharge bulk glow are separated by a pronounced dark space. Arcs develop at a time which depends upon parameters such as the SF/sub 6/ pressure and the current pulse duration.