Electrical triggering of an optical breakdown plasma with subnanosecond jitter

We have shown that CO2-laser-induced breakdown in ultraclean gas follows less than 1 nsec after the injection of free electrons into the focal volume. While this confirms our understanding of the plasma nucleation mechanisms, it is also the first example of a new class of electro-optic switch in which a small electrical signal is able to control the transmission of a powerful laser beam.