Multicolor Laser Generation Resulting from a Chain Reaction of Atmospheric Nitrogen Oxidation Initiated by an Electric Discharge in Air

Abstract

It was demonstrated that the luminous cloud arising during an explosion in air initiated by an electric discharge produces superluminescence and laser generation in the visible spectrum. Both these types of radiation presumably originate from the stimulated emission of NO* (blue light) and NO*₂ (orange and red) molecules and N₂O(¹S) exciplexes (green). In addition, if the process occurs inside an optical resonator, the mixture of nitrogen oxidation products with air autoignites.