Time-dependent behavior of a pulsed high power xenon flashlamp. Application to the Mega-Joule laser pumping

A numerical model has been developed for studying the time-dependent behavior of cylindrical high power xenon flashlamp. The equations of local energy conservation and mass conservation are solved using the finite volume method to give plasma parameters such as radial temperature profiles, instantaneous emission spectra, pressure, velocity, arc conductance, etc. In a first approximation the plasma is described under local thermodynamic equilibrium, LTE. The results are given as a function of time over the pulse and for several nodes in the cross section. Then the detailed spectral and temporal calculations of the output radiation from xenon flashlamp and radiation efficiencies are provided. © 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.