Similarity principles for laser-induced breakdown in gases

The well-known similarity principles for dc breakdown in gases are extended to the case of laser-induced breakdown. The wealth of experimental data on kinetic processes in gases may therefore be directly applied to ac breakdown. Without solving the Boltzmann equation, the ionization rate is determined as a function of pressure, frequency, electric field, etc. This has important implications for the maximum possible light intensity in high-pressure TEA amplifiers.