A system for accurate determination of breakdown thresholds is described. Automatic recording of individual laser pulse energies allows statistical analysis of the outcomes of many laser pulses and a consequent determination of relative threshold pulse energies with better than 1% accuracy, in spite of much larger variations in laser energy from pulse to pulse. Other statistical information such as the probability of breakdown as a function of pulse energy and pulse‐to‐pulse correlations can be measured with comparable accuracy.

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© 1976 American Institute of Physics.
1976
American Institute of Physics
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