Abstract

A new type of plasma light source produced by a sliding surface discharge on ferrite rods has been developed for various applications such as gas laser excitation. The current flow is first initiated through a conducting line written on the ferrite material.¹ The electrical discharge leads to the formation of a long linear plasma channel emitting an intense VUV radiation.² This device is capable of repetitive pulse operation in any atmosphere gas conditions. Side-on views obtained with a rapid CCD camera system have shown a plasma column of cylindrical form surrounded by a layer of a shock-compressed gas whose radial expansion have been well described.³

© 1994 IEEE