Modeling of pulsed capillary discharge waveguides using a non-lte approach

Pulsed capillary discharge waveguides are arc plasmas that have important applications as waveguides for laser-wakefield acceleration and high-harmonic generation. Both processes have important future biomedical applications. In this contribution, two key aspects of the modeling procedure are discussed: non-local thermal equilibrium (non-LTE) and wall heating. A comparison of the results of the non-LTE mode with a local thermal equilibrium model reveals that the latter model is inadequate for describing the formation mechanism of the waveguide in the discharge, but is adequate for describing the plasma once a waveguide has formed. The simulation of wall heating is useful for predicting wall ablation, but the effect of the hotter wall on the central plasma properties is modest, with a 5% difference in density observed.