Spatiotemporal evolution of the plasma from dual-pulsed laser-induced breakdown in an atmospheric air

The spatiotemporal evolution of dual-pulsed laser-induced breakdown (DPLIB) was experimentally investigated in a quiescent atmospheric air. DPLIB with time intervals between pulses of 30-100 ns and pulse energies of 10-30 mJ were compared to a single laser-induced breakdown of the same total energy. An intensified CCD camera was used to capture direct images from the onset of the breakdown until 300 ns after the breakdown. The spatial and temporal temperature and electron number density were obtained from the N II spectrum at 500 nm. With increasing laser pulse energy, the breakdown perimeter, temperature and electron number density all increase. For DPLIB, the second breakdown occurs on the outside axial edges of the first breakdown increasing the breakdown perimeter. The uneven distribution of energy to the plasma creates an uneven temperature distribution. The electron number density is increased at the edges of the DPLIB for times less than 150 ns after the first breakdown. Depending on the electron number density of the first breakdown and the focal point location of the second breakdown, the second breakdown could occur on either the near side (closest to the focusing lens) or the far side (furthest from the focusing lens) of the focal point in the axial direction of the laser beam.