Breakdown in the rare gases using single picosecond ruby laser pulses

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Abstract
An experimental investigation has been made of laser-induced breakdown thresholds in the rare gases, using single picosecond pulses from a ruby laser with time durations of 18+or-4 ps. Breakdown threshold intensity measurements, carried out at pressures below approximately 7000 Torr, were always pressure-dependent. The results show important differences from those already obtained on picosecond timescales at the same wavelength of 0.694 mu m, but are in general agreement with similar measurements made at laser wavelengths of 1.064 and 0.53 mu m. They support the view that present multiphoton ionization theory is inadequate for describing ionization in high ( gamma approximately=1) radiation fields.